Fundamental material property — definition of malleability Malleability is the property of a material by virtue of which the material:

Introduction / Context:
Standard mechanical property terms describe how materials respond to loads during manufacturing and in service. Confusing these terms leads to incorrect material selection. This question asks you to pick the definition that matches malleability.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Terminology focuses on forming and in-service behavior.
• Properties compared: elasticity, plasticity, ductility, malleability, and creep.

Concept / Approach:
Malleability is the ability of a material to undergo significant plastic deformation in compression without cracking, enabling it to be rolled or hammered into thin sheets. Ductility refers to plastic deformation in tension (wire drawing). Elasticity is reversible deformation. Plasticity is the general ability to undergo permanent deformation. Creep is time-dependent plastic strain under sustained stress at elevated temperature.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Match each option with the correct property definition.Identify the statement describing rolling/hammering into sheets → malleability.Select the option that explicitly states this behavior.

Verification / Alternative check:
Materials texts consistently define malleability as compressive formability (sheet making, coin striking), with gold and lead as classic examples.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Elasticity: temporary deformation only, not permanent forming.
• Plasticity: broad term; not specific to compressive sheet forming.
• Ductility: tensile plasticity for wire drawing, not sheet forming.
• Creep: time-dependent deformation at high temperature, unrelated to malleability.

Common Pitfalls:
Equating ductility with malleability; both are plasticity measures but apply to different stress states (tension vs. compression).

Final Answer:
can be rolled or hammered into thin sheets (malleability)