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ASVAB · Structural Support

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

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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 Elasticity
  2. B Brittleness
  3. C 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)
  4. D Hardness

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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About this topic: Structural Support

Structural support questions ask which beam, brace or support carries the most load, where a structure will fail, and how triangles, arches and cantilevers distribute weight. Think about where the force goes. This is one of 8 Mechanical Comprehension questions on structural support, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our ASVAB exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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