Shattering refers to the process of breaking something into many small pieces, often suddenly and violently. This can occur with materials like glass, ceramics, or certain types of rock when they experience a strong impact or stress. The result is a scattering of fragments that can vary in size and shape. In physics, shattering is often studied to understand the properties of materials and their responses to forces. For example, when a glass object is dropped, it may shatter upon impact due to its brittle nature. This phenomenon is important in fields like engineering and safety design, where material durability is crucial.