Compliance is defined as the inverse of stiffness. Stiffness is a measure of how much a material resists deformation under an applied load, while compliance measures how much a material deforms under an applied load.

Explanation:

1. Definition of Compliance:
- Compliance is a mechanical property that quantifies the ability of a material to deform under an applied load.
- It is a measure of how easily a material can be stretched, compressed, or bent.
- Compliance is expressed as the ratio of the change in dimension (deformation) to the applied load.

2. Inverse of Stiffness:
- Stiffness is the resistance of a material to deformation.
- It is a measure of how much force is required to produce a given amount of deformation.
- Stiffness is typically characterized by the elastic modulus, such as Young's modulus or shear modulus.
- The higher the stiffness, the less deformation a material will experience for a given load.

3. Relationship between Compliance and Stiffness:
- Compliance and stiffness are inversely related to each other.
- As the stiffness of a material increases, its compliance decreases.
- This means that a stiffer material will deform less for a given load, resulting in lower compliance.
- Conversely, a less stiff material will deform more under the same load, indicating higher compliance.

4. Importance of Compliance:
- Compliance is an essential property in various engineering applications.
- It helps determine the behavior of materials under different loading conditions.
- Compliance is particularly important when designing structures or components that require a certain level of flexibility or elasticity.
- For example, in the design of springs or shock absorbers, compliance is a crucial parameter to ensure proper functioning.

In conclusion, compliance is the inverse of stiffness and is a measure of how easily a material can deform under an applied load. It is an important property in engineering design, especially when flexibility or elasticity is desired.