Compared to softwood, hardwood generally has which characteristic?

• A. Lower density
• B. The same density
• C. Higher density
• D. No density

Answer: (C)

Hardwoods generally have higher density than softwoods. This comes from their cellular makeup, where a denser arrangement of fibers and vessels packs more material into a given volume. That extra mass makes hardwoods heavier and usually stronger, which is why they’re often chosen for load-bearing or durable applications. There are exceptions, like some hardwoods such as balsa that are quite light, and some softwoods that can be relatively dense, but the usual trend is a higher density for hardwoods. The options suggesting lower density, the same density, or no density don’t align with how wood types typically behave.