Tension
Reference from the original Physics I textbook.
- Tension
A pulling force that is transmitted through an object which is attached to something at both ends.
Example: By pulling on a rope, you put a tension force in the rope, which in turn allows the other end of the rope to exert a force on another object (e.g. a bucket).
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Glossary and deeper reading · 1 refreshers
These editorial refreshers supplement the reading. Definitions and examples are added guidance; original source wording and recorded answers remain in their original context.
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Tension
Tension is a pulling force transmitted through a stretched rope, string, or similar connector. It acts along the connector away from the object it pulls, and an ideal massless rope has the same tension throughout an uninterrupted segment. For example, a rope supporting an accelerating load can have a tension different from the load’s weight.