ABSTRACT

Tension is a force that tends to stretch a material, as shown in Figure 25.1. For example,

(i) the rope or cable of a crane carrying a load is in tension,

(ii) rubber bands, when stretched, are in tension, (iii) when a nut is tightened, a bolt is under tension. A tensile force, i.e. one producing tension, increases the length of the material on which it acts.