There are two essentially different kinds of rigidity . "'Finite "'or "'macroscopic rigidity "'means that the structure will not flex, fold, or bend by a positive amount . "'Infinitesimal rigidity "'means that the structure will not flex by even an amount that is too small to be detected even in theory . ( Technically, that means certain differential equations have no nonzero solutions . ) The importance of finite rigidity is obvious, but infinitesimal rigidity is also crucial because infinitesimal flexibility in theory corresponds to real-world minuscule flexing, and consequent deterioration of the structure.
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There are two essentially different kinds of rigidity . "'Finite "'or "'macroscopic rigidity "'means that the structure will not flex, fold, or bend by a positive amount . "'Infinitesimal rigidity "'means that the structure will not flex by even an amount that is too small to be detected even in theory . ( Technically, that means certain differential equations have no nonzero solutions . ) The importance of finite rigidity is obvious, but infinitesimal rigidity is also crucial because infinitesimal flexibility in theory corresponds to real-world minuscule flexing, and consequent deterioration of the structure.