When metal is tempered, it becomes...

Question 1 of 270705eccef9bbacbc34ba4d45308

When metal is tempered, it becomes __________.

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Question 1 of 27070

Q

When metal is tempered, it becomes __________.

🔍 Key Concepts

• Tempering as a heat-treatment process for steel and other metals • How tempering affects brittleness versus toughness • Difference between making metal very hard and making it more usable in tools and springs

💭 Think About

• When metal is first fully hardened, what happens to its brittleness? Then what is tempering supposed to correct? • Think about tools like chisels, springs, or drill bits: do we want them to shatter easily, or to bend slightly and absorb shock? • Is tempering mainly aimed at maximum hardness, or at getting a better balance between hardness and toughness?

✅ Before You Answer

• Recall that hardening and tempering are related but different steps in heat treatment • Check which option describes a change that would make a tool less likely to crack or shatter under impact • Verify which property—brittleness, toughness, or hardness—is usually improved by tempering after the metal has been fully hardened