Richard Basehart
Warren Quimby
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Learn the various meanings and uses of the word tension, from inner striving to stress to elasticity. See synonyms, examples, etymology, and related phrases of tension.
Learn the meaning of tension as a feeling of nervousness, fear, anger, or stretch. See how to use tension in sentences and collocations with other words.
- Overview
- What does tension mean?
- How do we calculate the force of tension?
- Example 1: Angled rope pulling on a box
- Example 2: Box hanging from two ropes
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
Ropes pull on things! Learn how to handle that kind of force.
1.Draw the forces exerted on the object in question.
2.Write down Newton's second law (a=ΣFm) for a direction in which the tension is directed.
3.Solve for the tension using the Newton's second law equation a=ΣFm .
All physical objects that are in contact can exert forces on each other. We give these contact forces different names based on the types of objects in contact. If one of the objects exerting the force happens to be a rope, string, chain, or cable we call the force tension.
[How can a rope exert a force?]
Ropes and cables are useful for exerting forces since they can efficiently transfer a force over a significant distance (e.g. the length of the rope). For instance, a sled can be pulled by a team of Siberian Huskies with ropes secured to them which lets the dogs run with a larger range of motion compared to requiring the Huskies to push on the back surface of the sled from behind using the normal force. (Yes, that would be the most pathetic dog sled team ever.)
It's important to note here that tension is a pulling force since ropes simply can't push effectively. Trying to push with a rope causes the rope to go slack and lose the tension that allowed it to pull in the first place. This might sound obvious, but when it comes time to draw the forces acting on an object, people often draw the force of tension going in the wrong direction so remember that tension can only pull on an object.
Unfortunately, there's no special formula to find the force of tension. The strategy employed to find the force of tension is the same as the one we use to find the normal force. Namely, we use Newton's second law to relate the motion of the object to the forces involved. To be specific we can,
1.Draw the forces exerted on the object in question.
2.Write down Newton's second law (a=ΣFm) for a direction in which the tension is directed.
3.Solve for the tension using the Newton's second law equation a=ΣFm .
A 2.0 kg box of cucumber extract is being pulled across a frictionless table by a rope at an angle θ=60o as seen below. The tension in the rope causes the box to slide across the table to the right with an acceleration of 3.0m s2 .
What is the tension in the rope?
First we draw a force diagram of all the forces acting on the box.
Now we use Newton's second law. The tension is directed both vertically and horizontally, so it's a little unclear which direction to choose. However, since we know the acceleration horizontally, and since we know tension is the only force directed horizontally, we'll use Newton's second law in the horizontal direction.
[What if we accidentally chose to use the second law in the vertical direction?]
ax=ΣFxm(use Newton’s second law for the horizontal direction)
A 0.25 kg container of animal crackers hangs at rest from two strings secured to the ceiling and wall respectively. The diagonal rope under tension T2 is directed at an angle θ=30o from the horizontal direction as seen below.
What are the tensions (T1 and T2) in the two strings?
First we draw a force diagram of all the forces acting on the container of animal crackers.
Now we have to use Newton's second law. There are tensions directed both vertically and horizontally, so again it's a little unclear which direction to choose. However, since we know the force of gravity, which is a vertical force, we'll start with Newton's second law in the vertical direction.
ay=ΣFym(use Newton’s second law for the vertical direction)
0=T2sin30o−Fg0.25 kg(plug in the vertical acceleration, mass, and vertical forces)
Learn what tension is, how it differs from other contact forces, and how to calculate it using Newton's second law. See solved problems involving tension in ropes, strings, and cables.
noun. the act of stretching or straining. the state of being stretched or strained. mental or emotional strain; intense, suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement. a strained relationship between individuals, groups, nations, etc. (not in current use) pressure, especially of a vapor. Mechanics.
When things feel so tight they might snap, that's tension. If you buy your girlfriend a vacuum cleaner when she wanted diamonds, you will experience tension. Just before she storms out of the room. The noun tension has its Latin roots in tendere, which means to stretch, and tension occurs when something is stretched either physically or ...
Learn the meaning of tension as a noun in English, with synonyms, translations, and usage examples. Tension can refer to a feeling of fear or anger, a feeling of nervousness, or a quality of being tight or stiff.
Learn the meaning, pronunciation and usage of the word tension in different contexts. Find out how to use tension to describe a situation, a feeling, a state or a quality.
