Which property describes a material's ability to resist being pushed or squashed?

Which property describes a material's ability to resist being pushed or squashed?

• A. Tensile strength
• B. Compressive strength
• C. Hardness
• D. Impact resistance

Answer: (B)

This question tests how a material behaves under pushing or squeezing forces. The property that describes a material’s ability to resist being pushed or squashed is compressive strength—the maximum stress a material can withstand when a compressive (squeezing) load is applied before it fails. This is different from tensile strength, which measures resistance to pulling apart, hardness, which is about resisting surface indentation and scratching, and impact resistance, which concerns energy absorption in sudden shocks. So compressive strength is the best fit for describing resistance to being crushed under load.

This question tests how a material behaves under pushing or squeezing forces. The property that describes a material’s ability to resist being pushed or squashed is compressive strength—the maximum stress a material can withstand when a compressive (squeezing) load is applied before it fails. This is different from tensile strength, which measures resistance to pulling apart, hardness, which is about resisting surface indentation and scratching, and impact resistance, which concerns energy absorption in sudden shocks. So compressive strength is the best fit for describing resistance to being crushed under load.