Final answer:
Compressive stress can be applied to a rubber band by pushing its ends towards each other, although it may not be as observable as tensile stress due to the material's elasticity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Can compressive stress be applied to a rubber band? The answer is yes. Compressive stress refers to the force that squeezes or compacts a material. In the case of a rubber band, when you apply force on its ends towards each other, you are attempting to shorten its length, thus applying compressive stress. However, due to the elastic nature of rubber bands, they can resist compression to some extent before they buckle or fold, making the stress less observable compared to tensile stress, which occurs when the rubber band is stretched.