Which of the following best describes physical assets used for a number of years in the operation of a business?

Plant assets are best described as physical assets that are used in the operation of a business over a period of years. These assets are fundamental to a company's operations and include items such as buildings, machinery, equipment, and vehicles.

The key characteristic of plant assets is that they are long-term in nature, typically providing utility to the business over several accounting periods. They are not intended for immediate sale but are instead used to produce goods or services. As a result, plant assets are subject to depreciation, which allows businesses to allocate the cost of the asset over its useful life, reflecting the wear and tear or obsolescence that occurs over time.

In contrast, current assets refer to resources that are expected to be converted into cash or used up within one year, such as inventory and accounts receivable. Financial assets, on the other hand, include securities such as stocks and bonds that are not primarily used in the operations of the business. Lastly, intangible assets are non-physical assets like patents and trademarks that provide economic benefits but do not have a physical form. Therefore, the classification of physical assets used in business operations aligns perfectly with the definition of plant assets.