A metal is drawn into a wire. Which property describes this behavior?

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

Answer: (A)

Ductility is the ability of a metal to be drawn into a wire, meaning it can undergo significant plastic deformation in tension without breaking. When the metal is pulled, its crystal structure deforms and allows elongation into a thin strand while staying intact. That stretching-under-load behavior is exactly what ductility describes.

Malleability would be about shaping the metal into sheets by hammering or rolling, not pulling into a wire. Elasticity is about returning to the original shape after the force is removed, which isn’t what happens during wire drawing. Hardness is about resisting indentation or scratching, not how much the metal can stretch. Copper, aluminum, and other ductile metals are commonly used for wires because they can be drawn into long, continuous strands without fracturing.