Which term describes the energy stored in elastic materials when they are stretched or compressed?

The term that describes the energy stored in elastic materials when they are stretched or compressed is elastic potential energy. This type of energy is specifically associated with materials that have the ability to return to their original shape after deformation, such as springs, rubber bands, or any elastic substance.

When an elastic material is either stretched or compressed, work is done on the material, and energy is stored in the form of elastic potential energy. When the material is released, this stored energy can be converted back into kinetic energy as the material returns to its original shape.

Understanding this concept is crucial in physics as it illustrates the relationship between force, displacement, and energy conservation in elastic systems. Other forms of energy listed, such as kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy, and thermal energy, have different definitions and applications, focusing on motion, position in a gravitational field, and heat energy, respectively, rather than the specific storage of energy in deformable materials.