How much stronger can thermoplastics be than safety glass of the same thickness?

How much stronger can thermoplastics be than safety glass of the same thickness?

• A. 50x
• B. 250x
• C. 100x
• D. 500x

Answer: (B)

Impact resistance is being compared: how much energy a material can absorb before it fails when hit suddenly. Thermoplastics like polycarbonate are known for high toughness—they deform and absorb energy rather than crack or shatter. Safety glass, while strong in some regards, is brittle and tends to crack or break under sharp impact. When you compare the same thickness, a thermoplastic can absorb a lot more energy before failing—about 250 times more than safety glass. That’s why 250x is the best choice: it captures the large difference in impact resistance between these materials. The other numbers either understate or overstate the typical gap seen in practice.

Impact resistance is being compared: how much energy a material can absorb before it fails when hit suddenly. Thermoplastics like polycarbonate are known for high toughness—they deform and absorb energy rather than crack or shatter. Safety glass, while strong in some regards, is brittle and tends to crack or break under sharp impact. When you compare the same thickness, a thermoplastic can absorb a lot more energy before failing—about 250 times more than safety glass. That’s why 250x is the best choice: it captures the large difference in impact resistance between these materials. The other numbers either understate or overstate the typical gap seen in practice.