The ability of a material to be stretched into a long, thinner shape is called ____

The ability of a material to be stretched into a long, thinner shape is called ____

• A. Brittleness
• B. Elasticity
• C. Ductility
• D. Malleability

Answer: (C)

Ductility is the ability of a material to undergo significant plastic deformation before breaking, such as being drawn into a wire or pulled into a long, thin shape. This distinguishes it from elasticity, which is about stretching and then returning to the original shape when the load is removed, not about permanent thinning. It’s also different from malleability, which is the ability to deform under compressive forces to form sheets, not to be drawn out into fibers. Brittleness, on the other hand, describes materials that fracture with little to no deformation, so they don’t stretch into slender shapes.

Ductility is the ability of a material to undergo significant plastic deformation before breaking, such as being drawn into a wire or pulled into a long, thin shape. This distinguishes it from elasticity, which is about stretching and then returning to the original shape when the load is removed, not about permanent thinning. It’s also different from malleability, which is the ability to deform under compressive forces to form sheets, not to be drawn out into fibers. Brittleness, on the other hand, describes materials that fracture with little to no deformation, so they don’t stretch into slender shapes.