can we measure how hard an object is?

Answer 1

Not *quantitatively* like strength or density since hardness is a *qualitative* phenomenological parameter. Although correlated with strength, it has no objective units of measure. All you can do is determine if one object is harder than another or not. If it dimples or scratches the other material, then it's *defined* to be harder. Then, you just rank everything in order and give them numbers. Diamond, for example is 10.

Answer 2

Do you mean yourself experimentally or commercially.

Commercially - The solution was a method for measuring hardness based on pushing a hard metal ball (or diamond-tipped cone) into the steel being tested with a known force. The size (depth) of the resulting indentation was measured against the force being applied. Sometimes known as the Rockwell Hardness Test, this technique is still in use today to measure hardness.

Experimentally at home - Take some objects of known composition and hardness. Press them into your unknown piece. you can get a range of hardness on what materials leave indents on your unknown piece and what ones do not.

Answer 3

ummmmm i don't know about regular objects but you can measure the hardness of different minerals. Not sure on the name of the scale but i know it goes like this:
1. Talc, can easily be scratched with finger nail.
Can't remember the others,
10. Diamond, can scratch glass.
hope i helped any.
THNX

Answer 4

There are stress machines that can measure how much pressure it takes to break or shatter an object.
There are similar machines that can measure how much outward tension (stretching) an object can take before breaking.

Answer 5

yes with the Moess (sp?) Hardness Scale diamond is the hardest. it is a 10 glass is a 7 i don't remember what 1 is