Understanding Plastic vs. Elastic Deformation

Alright bab, let’s clear this up ‘cos folk get muddled. You hear “plastic”

and think carrier bags, cheap tat, all that. But in engineering,

“plastic” means summat different. See, when you bend a bit of metal gentle,

it’s elastic — like stretchin’ a hair bobble. You let go, it pings back,

no bother. But shove it too far, and boom — plastic deformation.

That’s when the atoms slide, and the bend’s permanent. No magic bounce‑back, it stays wonky,

like your nan’s spoon after stirrin’ cement. So don’t confuse the word,

bab. Plastic deformation ain’t about Lego bricks, it’s about pushin’