Home » Mechanical Engineering » Engineering Materials

Material property: definition of hardness (ability to resist indentation/scratch) Select the option that correctly captures the essence of hardness as a mechanical property. Choose the correct statement.

Difficulty: Easy

It can be drawn into wires
It breaks with little permanent distortion
It can cut (scratch/indent) another metal
It can be rolled or hammered into thin sheets

Correct Answer: It can cut (scratch/indent) another metal

Explanation:

Concept
Hardness is the resistance to localized plastic deformation (indentation/scratch). A harder material can scratch or indent a softer one.

Eliminate options

(a) Ductility (wire drawing).
(b) Brittleness (tendency to fracture).
(d) Malleability (sheet forming).

Final Answer
It can cut (scratch/indent) another metal

← Previous Question Next Question→

More Questions from Engineering Materials

Steelmaking at TISCO (Jamshedpur): traditional primary process used historically Identify which steelmaking process has historically been in operation at Tata Iron and Steel Works (Jamshedpur) as per traditional references. Choose the correct process.
Blast furnace charging: location through which the charge is fed In an iron-making blast furnace, identify the correct region/part through which the solid charge (ore, coke, flux) is fed into the furnace. Choose the correct part.
Quality comparison of steelmaking routes: Bessemer/Open-hearth vs. LD (basic oxygen) Complete the statement about product quality: Steel produced by the Bessemer or open-hearth process is __________ to that produced by the L–D (basic oxygen) process. Choose the most appropriate comparative term and justify.
Cast irons: element added to produce nodular (spheroidal graphite) iron Identify the element intentionally added to molten cast iron to produce nodular/spheroidal graphite (SG iron). Choose the correct element.
Metallurgy: effect of silicon addition to copper Silicon is added to copper (silicon bronze) as an alloying element. Which property combination is most improved by silicon in copper alloys? Choose the correct option.
Steel microstructures and hardness ranking Among common steel microstructures (pearlite, ferrite, cementite, martensite), which one gives the highest hardness under typical heat-treatment conditions? Choose the correct option.
Identify the composition of brass (basic metallurgy recall) Brass is an alloy of which elements? Choose the correct option.
Foundry practice: purpose of the cupola furnace A cupola is employed in foundries primarily to produce or melt which ferrous material for casting? Choose the correct option.
Where is cast iron manufactured/melted for foundry use? Select the most appropriate furnace commonly used to produce molten cast iron from pig iron and scrap for casting. Choose the correct option.
Work-hardenable alloy steel for earthmoving equipment blades Blades of bulldozers, bucket wheel excavators, and similar equipment use a work-hardenable alloy steel. Besides Fe and C, which alloying element characterizes this steel? Choose the correct option.

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

Join Discussion