Define the term brittleness in relation to the properties of metals. - Leaving Cert Engineering - Question e - 2012

Brittleness refers to the characteristic of a material, particularly metals, that allows it to fracture or break easily when subjected to an impact force or stress. A brittle material typically lacks the ability to deform plastically; instead, it tends to fail suddenly under strain, often producing a sharp fracture surface. In the context of metals, this property contrasts with ductility, where a ductile metal can undergo significant plastic deformation before failure.