Which term would you use to describe the ability to resist wear, scratching and indentation?

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

Answer: (A)

Hardness is the quality that describes how well a material resists surface damage like indentation and scratching. It reflects how resistant the surface is to permanent deformation when a harder object presses or rubs against it. In practice, a harder material will show less denting or scratching under similar wear conditions, which is why hardness is used to rank materials for wear resistance. Keep in mind hardness isn’t the only factor in wear performance—toughness, surface finish, and how the material is used also matter. The other terms describe different properties: elasticity is about springing back after deformation, ductility is the ability to deform extensively without breaking, and fusibility is about melting.