Abstract: The cleavage force F(z) needed to separate parallel atomic planes by a distance z is first discussed for simple s-p metals using density functional theory.For the s-p nearly free-electron metals the linearized Thomas-Fermi equation is solved self-consistently in the cases of (a) semi-infinite planes of jellium (i.e. smeared uniform positive ions) and (b) a semi-infinite cylinder of finite radius, cleaved by a plane perpendicular to its axis. In (a), the elastic region has the form F(z)=Az ∝ Zrs-11/2, where rs is the mean interelectronic distance in the jellium model. Size effects are then considered, with possible relevance to atomic force microscopy.Defect energies are treated, using both electron theory and pair force laws.