In biomechanics, which term describes deformation resulting from a load?

In biomechanics, which term describes deformation resulting from a load?

• A. Stress
• B. Strain
• C. Load
• D. Torque

Answer: (B)

Deformation caused by a load is described as strain. Strain is the change in length or shape that results from the applied force, relative to the tissue’s original length (ΔL divided by L0). It’s a dimensionless measure (often shown as a percentage) of how much the tissue stretches or compresses under load. This is different from stress, which is the internal force per area that develops within the tissue to resist the load, and from the external load itself or from torque, which is a twisting moment. In biomechanics, for example, when a tendon lengthens slightly under the impact of landing, that elongation is the strain, while the tissue’s internal resistance to that elongation is related to the stress.

Deformation caused by a load is described as strain. Strain is the change in length or shape that results from the applied force, relative to the tissue’s original length (ΔL divided by L0). It’s a dimensionless measure (often shown as a percentage) of how much the tissue stretches or compresses under load. This is different from stress, which is the internal force per area that develops within the tissue to resist the load, and from the external load itself or from torque, which is a twisting moment. In biomechanics, for example, when a tendon lengthens slightly under the impact of landing, that elongation is the strain, while the tissue’s internal resistance to that elongation is related to the stress.