Which material is more susceptible to compression?

• A. Hard wood
• B. Metal
• C. Glass
• D. Soft wood

Answer: (D)

Compression strength varies by material. A material’s ability to resist being crushed under load depends on stiffness and internal structure. Soft wood has a looser, more porous cellular makeup and lower stiffness than hard wood, metal, or glass. Under the same compressive load, soft wood will deform more and reach its failure point sooner, so it’s more susceptible to compression. Hard wood is denser and stiffer, metal has very high compressive strength, and glass is rigid but brittle—strong in compression up to its limit, yet prone to sudden failure if flaws exist. So soft wood is the most vulnerable to compressive forces.