Final answer:
Impact tests measure the energy required to fracture a specimen, elucidating the material's toughness, which is distinct from tensile strength and the elastic limit.
Step-by-step explanation:
Impact tests are designed to measure the energy required to fracture a specimen. This is pivotal in understanding the material's toughness, which engineers define as the material's ability to absorb energy without fracturing. Tensile strength is related to impact testing in that both measure aspects of a material's resistance to force; however, tensile strength specifically refers to the maximum stress a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before failing or fracturing. Impact testing differs in that it can measure the material's performance under dynamic loading conditions. Additionally, materials possess an elastic limit, which is the maximum stress they can endure before they become permanently deformed.