Definition of Stress (physics)

Stress is a measure of force per unit area within a body. It is a body's internal distribution of force per area that reacts to external applied loads. Stress is often broken down into its shear and normal components as these have unique physical significance. In short, stress is to force as strain is to elongation. Term normal stress has synonym in rheology - extensional stress. Term normal stress has synonym in acoustics - longitudinal stress.