Bend vs Dent – What’s the difference?

Bend, as a noun, refers to an object that has been curved, twisted or folded out of shape. When we say something is “bent,” we mean it’s been damaged in some way, such as by being dropped on the floor or by having items fall on it from above. In terms of human bodies, we often use “bend” to speak about joints and their range of motion: you can bend your elbow but not your back; you can bend down but not up.

But what about dents? Dents are small creases or depressions in objects caused by impacts with other solid objects like walls or people’s heads (or my own head). While bends are permanent changes to an object’s form over time, dents are temporary marks that disappear once they’ve healed themselves over time (or after they are poked at repeatedly). So how do we tell these two things apart? Let me show you!

Bend

Bending is a permanent change in shape. The force needed to bend a material is proportional to its cross-sectional area, and the distance between its neutral axis and the point of application of force. When you bend something, you’re putting energy into it; when you let go, that energy doesn’t come back out easily–it’s absorbed by friction or other mechanisms.

Bending vs Denting: Bending means permanently changing something’s shape with enough force; denting means causing damage on top of existing damage that has already been done (like hitting your car door against another car).

Dent

A dent is a slightly curved indentation in an object. A dent can be caused by an external force, such as being hit by another car or driving over something sharp. Dents are often repaired by taking out the dented material and replacing it with new metal. You can also fill a small area of damage with putty, resin glue, or other filler materials; these are called “bondo jobs” because they’re commonly done using Bondo auto body filler (and sometimes sandpaper).

Takeaway:

If you’re still unsure of the difference between bend and dent, here’s what to keep in mind:

• A bend is an actual deformation of an object. The metal has been permanently changed by heat or pressure, and it will not return to its original shape without some sort of intervention (like welding).
• A dent refers to an indentation in a surface that can be removed by hammering out the dented area with something like a rubber mallet or ball peen hammer.

So, what’s the difference? A bend is a deformation of a material that causes it to change shape. The classic example is an elastic band: when you stretch it out and let go, it snaps back into place. Dents are similar in that they can be caused by impacts with objects (like your car hitting another car or wall), but they differ because they do not return to their original state once the force has been removed. This means that dents are permanent marks on objects while bends aren’t always!