What does toughness measure in a material?

Toughness measures the energy a material can absorb before fracturing. It reflects the resilience of the material under stress and its ability to deform plastically and absorb energy without breaking. Tough materials are capable of withstanding significant stress without failing, making them suitable for applications where impact resistance is critical.

The measurement of toughness is often represented in terms of energy per unit volume, indicating how much deformation a material can sustain before it ultimately fails. This is particularly important in engineering applications where materials are subjected to dynamic loads or impacts. Toughness is a key property in the selection of materials for various structural and mechanical applications, ensuring safety and durability.

In contrast to the other options, toughness does not refer to temporal capacity, deformation rate, or reshaping ability. The focus of toughness is specifically on energy absorption and resistance to fracture, which solidifies its definition and significance in material science.