uelastisk

Uelastisk is an adjective used in several European languages to denote the property of lacking elasticity. In technical contexts it is often treated as a synonym of inelastic, describing systems or materials that do not return to their original form after a deforming force or that do not respond proportionally to stimuli.

In materials science, a uelastisk material deforms under stress and may retain a permanent deformation after the stress is removed. The distinction is usually made between the elastic region, where deformation is reversible and follows approximately Hooke’s law, and the plastic region, where permanent changes occur. The yield point or elastic limit marks the transition from elastic to inelastic behavior. The stiffness of a material is quantified by its modulus of elasticity (such as Young’s modulus), with higher values often associated with lower elasticity in practical terms.

In economics, uelastisk (inelastic) describes demand or supply that changes only slightly with price. Price elasticity of demand with an absolute value less than one indicates inelastic demand, often seen for essential goods or in short time horizons and when few substitutes exist. Inelastic supply characterizes producers’ limited ability to adjust output quickly in response to price changes.

Other uses include inelastic processes in physics, such as inelastic collisions where kinetic energy is not conserved, and materials that exhibit irreversible deformation after impact or load.

See also: Elasticity, Young’s modulus, Plastic deformation, Inelastic collision, Price elasticity of demand.