What is Tensile: Definition and 168 Discussions

In physics, tension is described as the pulling force transmitted axially by the means of a string, a cable, chain, or similar object, or by each end of a rod, truss member, or similar three-dimensional object; tension might also be described as the action-reaction pair of forces acting at each end of said elements. Tension could be the opposite of compression.
At the atomic level, when atoms or molecules are pulled apart from each other and gain potential energy with a restoring force still existing, the restoring force might create what is also called tension. Each end of a string or rod under such tension could pull on the object it is attached to, in order to restore the string/rod to its relaxed length.
In physics, tension, as a transmitted force, as an action-reaction pair of forces, or as a restoring force, may be a force and has the units of force measured in newtons (or sometimes pounds-force). The ends of a string or other object transmitting tension will exert forces on the objects to which the string or rod is connected, in the direction of the string at the point of attachment. These forces due to tension are also called "passive forces". There are two basic possibilities for systems of objects held by strings: either acceleration is zero and the system is therefore in equilibrium, or there is acceleration, and therefore a net force is present in the system.

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  1. L

    Determining Tensile Stress on Pressurized Sphere Skin

    how to determine the tensile stress placed on the skin of a pressurized sphere
  2. P

    Calculating Ultimate Tensile Strength from Stress-Strain Curve

    Homework Statement What is the ultimate tensile strength if necking begins at a true strain = 0.25 in a material whose stress strain curve obeys the relation: sigma=120000(epsilon)^1/2 psi? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I'm kind of stumped on this. I really...
  3. C

    Measure the tensile strength using Young’s Modulus

    Hi there, I am currently looking to measure the tensile strength using Young’s Modulus for steel and brass. My results I have obtained are comparable with published values of E. My question is regarding the formulae, the one I used was: E = F/x X l/a Where a is the original cross section...
  4. R

    Difference between tensile and yield strength of a metal

    Homework Statement differance between tensile and yield strength. please help. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  5. E

    Calculate Stress & Strain from Lab Results for Steel

    How would i calculate the stress and strain with the results from a lab below: Steel’s original diameter: 8.00 mm Steel’s original length: 49.96 mm Steel’s final diameter: 4.64 mm Steel’s final length: 63.17 mm Steel’s maximum load force: 26.43 kN I also have an MS Excel table of time, laser...
  6. L

    Tensile Strength of 4 square RV Bumper

    Tensile Strength of 4" square RV Bumper I'm building a Class II style hitch for mounting on a 4" square RV Bumper. The RV bumper wall thickness is around .090 thousands. The bumper is welded perpendicular to a couple box frames on 60" centers. I intend to mount the hitch directly to the center...
  7. H

    What is the Tensile Stress, Strain, and Young's Modulus of a Stretched Wire?

    Homework Statement A load of 172 kg is supported by a wire of length 2.07m and cross-sectional area .143cm^2. The wire is stretched by 0.149 cm. Find tensile stress, strain, and Young's modulus. Homework Equations stress= F/A strain= ∆L/L E= stress/strain The Attempt at a...
  8. R

    Stress at half of tensile strength

    Can you guys solve a debate for me?If you have two objects and apply a physical stress to them, let's say in the forum of pressure. First object: Tensile strength 400 lbs. and you apply 200 lbs Second object: Tensile strength 200 lbs and you apply 100 lbs. So each is under 1/2 it's tensile...
  9. N

    Axially Loaded Member and Tensile Stress oh so lost

    Homework Statement "The axial load for a given test sample carries 1590 N. Calculate tensile stress at sections (1) and (2) assuming the sample thickness is 5mm. (Rectangular cross section). http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/121/tensilestressby1.th.jpg Homework Equations normal...
  10. C

    Why does a rope have different stiffness than a rod of the same diameter?

    Why would a rope have a lower bending and compressive stiffness that a rod of the same diameter, but would have the same axial tensile stiffness?
  11. C

    Control System For Tensile Testing Machine

    Hi, I am doing a small project on the "construction and control of a modern tensile testing machine" and am a bit unsure as to where to start on this! Does anyone have any ideas as to where I could find information on this subject, or know anything that might be helpful? Thanks, Chris
  12. K

    What Is Tensile Strength? | A Physics Novice's Questions

    I am a Physics novice. While reading an article on tensile strength in wikipedia, I began to wonder what force is responsible for keeping the atoms or molecules of something like a rope together. I mean what force would tension on the rope would have to overcome in order to break the rope...
  13. M

    Max tensile strength of Unobtanium

    Max tensile strength of "Unobtanium" "Unobtanium", of course, is that ever popular fictional material used in Sci-Fi to do things that today's materials can't. The idea being that although the materials we know of and use today have well established limits, there's no telling what will be...
  14. R

    How Is Transverse Tensile Strength Measured in Micron-Sized Fibers?

    How is tranverse tensile strength defined? How is it measured for thin fibers? Some high strength fibers such as carbon fibers have longitudinal tensile strength of 1,000,000 psi. But these fibers have diameters that measure in the microns. How could a transverse tensile strength be measured in...
  15. BasketDaN

    Material with best tensile strength to weight ratio?

    Could anybody tell me what material will give the best tensile strength to weight ratio? I figure it's between steel cable and the nylon type stuff used in some dog leashes, but I'm not sure which.
  16. J

    Alternate to standard tensile for determining young's modulus & yield

    Hi All, I have been working on a product development project and have run into a snag that I was hoping I could get some advice on. We need to determine the mechanical properties of a thin-walled nickel tube. Specifically young's modulus and yield strength. The current wall thickness...
  17. T

    Calculating Strain in a Steel Cable Supporting a Freight Elevator

    A 1260kg freight elevator is supported by a steel cable of diameter 34.9mm. It is loaded with a crowd of people collectively having a mass of 2850kg and it is descending. a) What is the strain on the cable while the elevator is descending at the constant speed of 2.30 m/s? b) What is the...
  18. B

    Tensile strength question

    Having a bit of a problem with this question, Find the minimum diameter of an alloy cable, tensile strength 75 MPa, needed to support a load of 15 kN. I know the answer is 1.6cm but i need someone to help explain how to get it. Ive got this far... Tensile strength of cable = 75 MPa...
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