In nondestructive testing, a discontinuity is defined as what?

In nondestructive testing, a discontinuity is defined as what?

• A. An interruption in the normal physical structure or configuration of a part
• B. A surface defect only
• C. A chemical change within the material
• D. A random irregularity with no effect

Answer: (A)

In nondestructive testing, a discontinuity means any interruption in the normal physical structure or configuration of a part. This includes internal or surface irregularities such as cracks, voids, porosity, or inclusions—basically any deviation from the intended geometry or material continuity that could affect performance. It’s not limited to surface defects, nor to chemical changes in the material. A chemical change describes changes in composition rather than a physical interruption, and a random irregularity with no effect isn’t accurate because a discontinuity implies a feature that could influence suitability or integrity of the part.

In nondestructive testing, a discontinuity means any interruption in the normal physical structure or configuration of a part. This includes internal or surface irregularities such as cracks, voids, porosity, or inclusions—basically any deviation from the intended geometry or material continuity that could affect performance. It’s not limited to surface defects, nor to chemical changes in the material. A chemical change describes changes in composition rather than a physical interruption, and a random irregularity with no effect isn’t accurate because a discontinuity implies a feature that could influence suitability or integrity of the part.