What is Tension force: Definition and 127 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. I

    What are the equations for tension and acceleration in a pulley system?

    Homework Statement A light cable passes over a frictionless pulley attached to the ceiling. A 10 kg block hangs at one end of the cable and an 8 kg block connected by a light cable to a 4 kg block hangs at the other end. a) Construct a force diagram for each block. b) Write Newton's...
  2. O

    Understanding Tension Force: Two Elephants Pulling a Rope

    Homework Statement Two elephants are pulling on opposite ends of a rope each with 10N of force. What is the tension force experienced by the rope? Homework Equations Not sure if there are anyThe Attempt at a Solution I originally thought to just add the the two together because they are...
  3. A

    Finding The Tension force with different angles

    Homework Statement I have done all the physics for this problem which I'll detail below. I am only having trouble in doing the simple math to single out the t1 or t2. A mass is hanging from a ceiling. It is supported by two strings which both are attached above to the ceiling. String 1 is...
  4. K

    Calculating Tension Force in a 3-Wire System for a 28 kg Chandelier

    A 28 kg chandelier is suspended 1.5 m below a ceiling by three wires, each of which has the same tension and the same length of 2.0 m (see the drawing attached). Find the tension in each wire. Equations I believe to be relevant... W = m * g Net force Y = T-W So far I thought...
  5. S

    Tension force with pulleys and weights

    Homework Statement An accident victim with a broken leg is being placed in traction. The patient wears a special boot with a pulley attached to the sole. The foot and boot together have a mass of m = 3.4 kg, and the doctor has decided to hang a 6.0 kg mass from the rope. The boot is held...
  6. E

    How Do You Calculate Tension in Multiple Cords Supporting a Single Mass?

    Homework Statement Find the tension in each cord (three cords) in the figure if the weight of the suspended object is 250 N. There are two systems System 1 Cord A is 30 Degrees below horizontal on the left, Cord B is 45 degrees below Horizontal on the right. Cord C connects the other two...
  7. E

    Applied Force Vs. tension Force

    Homework Statement hey just having a hard time figuring out a question about tension and applied force: A dock worker pulls two boxes connected by a rope on a horizontal floor, as shown in the figure (Intro 1 figure) . All the ropes are horizontal, and there is some friction with the floor...
  8. P

    3 Blocks Create a Tension Force- Find Acceleration

    Homework Statement The coefficient of kinetic friction between the m = 2.6 kg block in Figure P8.35 and the table is 0.28. What is the acceleration of the 2.6 kg block? (The image is attached) ______m/s2 Homework Equations Fk= (Mu)(N) 2nd Law statements The Attempt at a Solution...
  9. C

    Tension Force problem involving friction

    1. A horizontal rope pulls a 20kg wood sled across frictionless snow. A 5 kg wood box rides on the sled. The coefficient of static friction for wood on wood is 0.5. What is the largest tension force for which the box doesn't slip? m = 5 kg box, 20 kg sled mu = .5 T = ? 2. F = ma Ff= mu x n 3...
  10. T

    What is the tension force acting on the block?

    [b]1. A uniform sperical shell of mass Ms and radius R rotates about a vertical axis on frictionless bearings. A light cord passes around the equator of the shell over a pulley (a disk of mass Mp and radius r) and is attached to a small block of mass m that is otherwise free to fall under the...
  11. X

    Calculating Tension Force: Cable Cars in San Francisco

    Question: The cable cars in San Francisco are pulled along their tracks by an underground steel cable that moves along at 9.5mph. The cable is driven by large motors at a central power station and extends, via an intricate pulley arrangement, for several miles beneath the city streets. The...
  12. E

    Solving Tension Force in Plank Supported by Cables

    Homework Statement A strong plank 8.0 m long and having a negligible mass is supported by steel cables from both ends. A jaguar with a weight of 800 N stands 2.0 m from one end. What is the tension force in the cable farthest from the jaguar? a. 120 N b. 200 N c. 240 N d...
  13. T

    Calculating Tension Force in a Tug-of-War

    Homework Statement The diagram below shows two people having a tug-of-war. Determine the unknown tension force if person A is winning. http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8286/forcefp2.gif Homework Equations None that I think are necessary. The Attempt at a Solution I think that...
  14. G

    The Tension Force and Equilibrium

    Another one... The drawing shows a circus clown who weighs 875 N. The coefficient of static friction between the clown's feet and the ground is 0.41. He pulls vertically downward on a rope that passes around three pulleys and is tied around his feet. What is the minimum pulling force that the...
  15. R

    Free Body Diagram and tension force

    Homework Statement It is supporting a weight of 500kg g= 9.81 Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Is the tension force a moment? im just not sure what i should do with it at that angle to get my FBD Any help would be tops! thanks a heap
  16. D

    Calculating Tension Forces in a Frictionless Pulley System

    A man standing on a platform with an attached frictionless pulley is supporting himself at a fixed position in midair (zero acceleration). What force F is required to do this? Solve for F for a man of arbitrary mass M, and a platform plus pulley of arbitrary mass m. So, since a = 0 : Fnet =...
  17. O

    How Does Tension in a String Behave in Zero Gravity?

    an astronaut in gravity free space is twirling a mass m on the end of a string of length R in a circle, with constant angular velocity. Write down Newtons second lasw in polar coordinates and find the tension of the string. What makes up F(t) without acceleration and gravity? I'm confused.
  18. W

    How Do You Calculate Tension and Compression in a Hanging Restaurant Sign?

    Homework Statement a 25 kg restaurant sign hangs from a 1.25m horizontal pole with one end fastened at right angle to the brick wall of a restaurant and the other end fastened to a 2.5m cable . determine the force of compression actng on the pole and the tension in the cable. Homework...
  19. C

    How much tension must a rope withstand if it is used to accelerate a 1500 kg car vertically upward at 0.40 m/s2?

    How much tension must a rope withstand if it is used to accelerate a 1500 kg car vertically upward at 0.40 m/s2? What is the equation to find the force
  20. D

    What Causes Surface Tension Force to Hold a Needle on Water?

    Hi! I'm revising for my graduation exams and I unfortunately got stuck thinking about surface tension, esp about the example of a needle lying on water. When you look on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:SurftensionDiagram.gif" drawing? Or do surface forces act (exist) only along "seperation"...
  21. B

    How Do Tension and Torque Affect Equilibrium in Physics Problems?

    Torque Homework Statement A 160 N child sit on a light swing and is pulled back and held with a horizontal force 100 N. The tension force of each of the two supporting ropes is: A uniform plank is supported by two equal 120N forces at X and Y at both ends of the plank.The support at X is...
  22. N

    How Is Work Calculated When Lifting an Object with a Tension Force?

    here's the question: a mass of 100kg is pulled directly upward a distance of 5m by a rope with acceleration 1m/s^2. what is the work done by the tension force? so the normal force is mg, 100kg*10m/s^2(gravitational constant given)= 1000N the applied force is 100kg*1m/s^2= 100N so is the...
  23. K

    How Do Friction and Tension Forces Affect Motion?

    Question #1) A boy pulls a sled of mass 5.0 kg with a rope that makes an 60.0degree angle with respect to the horizontal surface of a frozen pond. The boy pulls on the rope with a force of 10.0 N; and the sled moves with constant velocity. What is the coefficient of friction between the sled and...
  24. C

    Will a Rope Break if Each End is Pulled with 500 N?

    "A rope is strong enough to withstand a 750 N force without breaking. If two people pull on opposite ends of the rope, each with a force of 500 N, will it break? Explain." Am I correct in assuming that the tension force will be 500N?
  25. C

    What is the tension force of each cable?

    Hello everyone. First I would just like to say how thankful I am that there is a forum for physics out here. Also I would like to prematurely thank anyone who is going to help me, it is greatly appreciated. Well I am in ap physics in high school, so this stuff should be cake for you guys...
  26. B

    Can't find normal and tension force

    i have two problems here where i have to find individual forces. problem 1: i can't find the normal force. how would i do it? <img src=http://img1.photobucket.com/albums/0903/badboyben03/p01.png> i tried 2123.328N *(2825.008-701.68) and also tried 701.68N but neither of them worked...
  27. P

    Calculate the magnitude of the tension force in the rope

    Can anyone help me on two problems of my hw? 1) A tow rope is used to pull a 1050-kg along a level road, initially accelerating it from rest at 1.50m/s^2 for a duration of 12.0seconds. Calculate the magnitude of the tension force in the rope during this acceleration.(ignore friction in the...
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