Final answer:
Bending a metal wire is a physical change because it does not alter the metal's chemical composition. The metal's arrangement is altered, but its atoms remain the same. This change in shape is due to the metal's malleability and ductility.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a metal wire is bent, it undergoes a physical change because the metal's composition does not change. A physical change is a change in the physical properties of a substance without altering its chemical composition. In the case of bending a metal wire, the metal atoms remain the same, but their arrangement is altered. This change in shape is due to the metal's malleability and ductility, which allow it to be bent easily without breaking.