According to Hooke's Law, when is stress directly proportional to strain in an elastic body?

Hooke's Law states that stress is directly proportional to strain within the limits of elasticity of a material. This means that as long as the material is not deformed beyond its elastic limits, the relationship holds true. When stress is applied to an elastic body, it will deform in proportion to the load applied, and this is only valid until the material reaches its elastic limit.

When the elastic limits are not exceeded, the material will return to its original shape once the load is removed. This behavior is critical in many engineering applications because it ensures that the materials used can withstand certain loads without experiencing permanent deformation. Thus, the correct assertion reflects the fundamental principle behind Hooke's Law, emphasizing that the material can still behave elastically within those defined parameters, allowing for predictable and manageable stress-strain relationships.