ASVAB · General

Which material property describes a metal's ability to be drawn into wire without breaking?

Correct answer

Ductility — the ability to be permanently deformed (stretched into wire) without fracturing; copper, gold, and aluminium are highly ductile; cast iron is brittle (not ductile)

  1. A Hardness
  2. B Ductility — the ability to be permanently deformed (stretched into wire) without fracturing; copper, gold, and aluminium are highly ductile; cast iron is brittle (not ductile)
  3. C Elasticity
  4. D Brittleness

Why this is the answer

MATERIAL PROPERTIES for the ASVAB: DUCTILITY: Ability to be drawn into wire or stretched without breaking (copper wire, gold wire); MALLEABILITY: Ability to be hammered or rolled into sheets without breaking (gold leaf, aluminium foil) — similar to ductility but in compression/bending rather than tension; HARDNESS: Resistance to scratching/indentation (diamond is hardest; measured by Mohs scale); ELASTICITY: Returns to original shape after deformation (springs, rubber bands); BRITTLENESS: Fractures without significant plastic deformation (glass, cast iron, ceramics); TOUGHNESS: Absorbs energy before fracturing (combines strength and ductility). Metals can be both ductile and malleable (gold, copper) or neither (cast iron, hardened tool steel).
Source: ASVAB MC, Material Properties — Ductility

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