The compressive strength of cast iron is __________ that of its tensile strength.

Cast iron is a material that behaves differently under compression (being squeezed) and tension (being pulled).

* Tensile Strength: This is how much pulling force the material can withstand before breaking.
* Compressive Strength: This is how much squeezing force the material can withstand before crushing.

Cast iron is stronger when it's being squeezed (compressed) than when it's being pulled (tensioned).

Think of it this way: Cast iron is brittle and prone to cracking when pulled, but it can handle a lot of crushing force.

So, the compressive strength of cast iron is much greater than its tensile strength.