During an assembly, a glass pane breaks after an impact. Which property best explains why glass can shatter?

During an assembly, a glass pane breaks after an impact. Which property best explains why glass can shatter?

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

Answer: (D)

Brittleness explains why glass shatters. A brittle material breaks with little or no plastic deformation when stressed. Glass has strong bonds but doesn’t rearrange easily to absorb energy by bending, so when impact occurs, tiny flaws create stress concentrations and cracks propagate rapidly. The pane then fractures into many pieces rather than bending. In contrast, ductile materials deform visibly before breaking, malleable ones can be shaped without cracking, and tough materials absorb more energy before failing. Glass’s low toughness means it can’t absorb much energy, leading to abrupt fracture.

Brittleness explains why glass shatters. A brittle material breaks with little or no plastic deformation when stressed. Glass has strong bonds but doesn’t rearrange easily to absorb energy by bending, so when impact occurs, tiny flaws create stress concentrations and cracks propagate rapidly. The pane then fractures into many pieces rather than bending. In contrast, ductile materials deform visibly before breaking, malleable ones can be shaped without cracking, and tough materials absorb more energy before failing. Glass’s low toughness means it can’t absorb much energy, leading to abrupt fracture.