In terms of material properties, what does high stiffness indicate?

High stiffness is an important characteristic of materials, particularly in engineering and structural contexts. When a material exhibits high stiffness, it means that it is extremely resistant to deformation when a load is applied. This property allows structures made from stiff materials to maintain their shape and integrity under various forces, thus ensuring stability and performance.

Materials with high stiffness do not easily bend or compress; they require significant force to achieve even minor deformations. This resistance to change in shape or size is critical in applications such as bridges, buildings, and machinery, where structural integrity is paramount.

The other options pertain to different material properties: the ability to absorb energy without changing shape relates to toughness and elasticity; capability to stretch without breaking refers to ductility; and potential to plastically deform describes the malleability of a material. While these properties are important, they do not directly relate to the concept of stiffness, which is specifically concerned with resistance to deformation.