| 释义 |
inelastic, a.|ɪnɪˈlæstɪk|
[f. in-3 + elastic.]
1. a. Not elastic; void of elasticity or springiness, whether from rigidity or plastic quality; not yielding to a strain and springing back to its normal condition on the removal of the strain.
inelastic fluids, a name for liquids, as being void of ‘elasticity’ in the older sense (see elastic A. 2): cf. elastic fluids s.v. elastic A. 3.
1748Hartley Observ. Man i. i. 87 The Excess of Softness, which renders the medullary Substance totally inelastic as to Sense. 1780Cheston in Phil. Trans. LXX. 328 Its cavity was above half filled with a firm inelastic substance. 1826Henry Elem. Chem. I. 245 Common or inelastic fluids are capable of remaining in contact with each other for a long time without admixture. 1863Tyndall Heat vii. 175 The principle of conservation holds equally good with elastic and inelastic bodies.
b. Of a collision (esp. between sub-atomic particles), or the scattering of one particle by another: involving a reduction in the total kinetic energy of the particles or bodies that come together, or a change in their internal energies.
1847L. D. B. Gordon tr. Weisbach's Princ. Mech. Machinery & Engin. I. iv. iv. 302 The vis viva lost by inelastic impacts is equivalent to the sum of the products of the masses and the squares of their loss or gain in velocity. Ibid. 310 These two general formula [sic] also embrace the laws of perfectly elastic and perfectly inelastic impact. 1907J. H. Jeans Theoret. Mech. ix. 238 When the contact between the surfaces of two bodies is of such a nature that they do not rebound at all after impact, it is said to be perfectly inelastic. 1938Physical Rev. LIII. 795/1 The results of experiments on the inelastic scattering of such fast neutrons are especially suitable for theoretical investigation because the number of excited states in which the nucleus may be left when the neutron is reemitted will be large enough to make statistical considerations valid. 1942Ibid. LXI. 129/1 The scattering of fast neutrons by nuclei is at least partly inelastic in the case of medium and heavy masses like Fe, Ag, and Pb. 1958W. K. Mansfield Elem. Nucl. Physics iv. 30 The compound nucleus formed in inelastic collisions disposes of its surplus energy, the kinetic energy and binding energy of the incident neutron, by several different processes involving the ejection of particles or radiation from the nucleus. Ibid. 33 For inelastic scattering to occur the neutron must have sufficient energy to leave the target nucleus in an excited state. 1962Gloss. Terms Nucl. Sci. (B.S.I.) 103 In inelastic scattering the scattered particle or photon loses energy by exciting the struck nucleus. 1966J. Harwood Introd. Mech. xi. 138 A collision between two balls of lead or putty would be inelastic.
2. fig.
a. That does not expand and contract in accordance with circumstance or need; unyielding.
1867Spectator 29 June 713/2 The House of Lords show not firmness and independence, but inelastic obstinacy and obstructiveness, in such a vote. 1871Alabaster Wheel of Law p. lvii, Buddhism does not seem to be inelastic or unsuitable to civilization. 1894Westm. Gaz. 5 June 6/1 The aggregate of the bank notes in active circulation is equally unchangeable and inelastic.
b. Econ. Varying less than in proportion to changes in price; (more loosely) unresponsive to changes in price: applied either to demand (for commodities, money, labour, etc.) or to supply.
1890A. Marshall Princ. Econ. III. iii. 167 There may be..violent changes..in the price of a thing which is not necessary, if it is perishable and the demand for it is inelastic. 1913Q. Rev. Oct. 520 The demand for gas is comparatively inelastic. 1925S. E. Thomas Elem. Econ. iv. 37 Demand is said to be elastic when a rise or fall in the price causes a more than proportionate rise in the amount demanded. On the other hand, demand is said to be inelastic when a fall or rise in price causes relatively little rise or fall in the amount demanded. 1969D. C. Hague Managerial Econ. ii. iii. 57 Demand at all of these numerical elasticities less than one is often described as being inelastic. 1973Lancet 14 Apr. 815/1 Russell found that the demand for cigarettes is inelastic... This means that if prices rise by 1% demand falls, but by an amount less than 1%; total revenue from taxation would then increase just as long as demand remained inelastic. |