Q1: The capacity of a material to absorb energy depends upon both its strength & stiffness. The term 'stiffness' of a material is the opposite of its

ANS:A - flexibility

The term "stiffness" of a material is the opposite of its flexibility. Explanation:

1. Stiffness:
   • Stiffness refers to the resistance of a material to deformation when subjected to an external load.
   • It is a measure of how much a material resists bending, stretching, or compressing under an applied force.
   • Materials with high stiffness exhibit minimal deformation when subjected to loading, whereas materials with low stiffness deform more easily.
2. Flexibility:
   • Flexibility is the ability of a material to bend, twist, or deform easily under applied stress without breaking.
   • It is essentially the opposite of stiffness.
   • Flexible materials can undergo significant deformation before reaching their breaking point, making them suitable for applications where bending or shaping is required.
3. Relationship between Stiffness and Flexibility:
   • Stiffness and flexibility are inversely related properties of materials.
   • A material that is stiff will be less flexible, meaning it resists deformation and bending.
   • Conversely, a material that is flexible will exhibit lower stiffness, allowing it to bend or deform easily under load.
4. Applications:
   • Materials with high stiffness are commonly used in applications where rigidity and resistance to deformation are important, such as structural components in buildings, bridges, and machinery.
   • On the other hand, materials with high flexibility find applications in products that require bending or shaping, such as rubber components, textiles, and certain plastics.

In summary, stiffness and flexibility are fundamental mechanical properties of materials, with stiffness representing resistance to deformation and flexibility representing the ease of deformation. The term "stiffness" is thus the opposite of "flexibility" when describing the mechanical behavior of materials.