Final answer:
The mechanical property that allows metals to stretch, bend, or twist without breaking is ductility. Metals are also malleable, allowing them to be shaped into sheets, and the tensile strength is the stress level at which they will permanently deform or break.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mechanical property of metal that enables it to stretch, bend, or twist without cracking or breaking is known as ductility. Ductile materials, such as many metals, can undergo significant plastic deformation before rupture. They are also often malleable, which means they can be hammered or rolled into thin sheets. In addition, the tensile strength of a material is a measure of the stress required to cause a material to deform permanently (plastic deformation) or to fracture. Hooke's law describes the initial, linear relationship between stress and strain where deformation is elastic and the metal returns to its original shape after the load is removed, while beyond this limit, the metal may experience permanent deformation or break.
Ductility is a key characteristic of metals that contributes to their versatility in various industries. Understanding the mechanical properties of metals, including ductility, is essential for engineers and materials scientists involved in designing and utilizing metal components for a wide range of applications.