What is the relationship between tension and compression?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concepts of tension and compression, exploring their definitions, relationships, and examples. Participants engage in clarifying these forces and how they interact in various scenarios, such as holding objects and mechanical applications.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that tension is a force that opposes other forces, illustrated by the example of holding a book against gravity.
  • Others argue that tension specifically refers to a pulling force that results in the stretching of an object, contrasting it with compression.
  • A participant emphasizes that tension is not present when holding an object with a flat hand, suggesting that tension is only relevant when a force is applied to pull something apart.
  • There is a mention of surface tension as a different concept, indicating that not all forms of tension are related to the forces discussed.
  • Compression is described as occurring in the example of turning a screw, where the screw exerts a compressive force, while tension is present when the screw holds components together.
  • A humorous note is made about the feeling of tension in a non-technical context, such as feeling nervous.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the definitions and applications of tension and compression, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain without a clear consensus.

Contextual Notes

Some definitions and examples provided may depend on specific contexts or interpretations, and there are unresolved nuances regarding the precise nature of tension and compression in various scenarios.

Himal kharel
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What actually is tension
 
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A force that opposes all other forces is what I would think. Suppose you are holding a book, so that it becomes at rest. The tension is your force holding it, because you are opposing all other forces affecting the acceleration of the book. In the case of holding the book, the only force affecting the book is gravitational force. So, you are opposing gravitationa force (putting tension on the book) equal to the gravitational force so that it won't accelerate either down or up. If you opposed force more than the gravitational force of the book, then it would start accelerating upward for sometime.
 


Himal kharel said:
What actually is tension

It's a pulling force. It results in stretching of the object that it's acting on.

It is the opposite of compression.
 


Rayquesto said:
A force that opposes all other forces is what I would think. Suppose you are holding a book, so that it becomes at rest. The tension is your force holding it, because you are opposing all other forces affecting the acceleration of the book. In the case of holding the book, the only force affecting the book is gravitational force. So, you are opposing gravitationa force (putting tension on the book) equal to the gravitational force so that it won't accelerate either down or up. If you opposed force more than the gravitational force of the book, then it would start accelerating upward for sometime.
No, if you are holding the book with a flat hand under it, there is NO "tension" on the book. I agree with LSOS- "tension" is specifically a force that tends to pull something apart. For example if you have a weight suspended from the ceiling by a cable, the weight exerts a force on the cable downward, the attachment to the ceiling exerts a force upward- the cable is under tension.

(Of course , "surface tension" is another thing entirely.)
 


ok! never thought of it that way! thanks!
 


thanks bro
 


Tension is the opposite of compression...

In the book and hand example posted, there is compression of each...

When you turn a screw in and press down on it there is some compression; once in place when its holding things together there is some tension.

"Tension" is also what I feel when I am nervous!
 

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