What is the difference between compression and tension forces

There can also be different result depending on the direction or position on the object that the compressive force is applied. Viva Differences. What Is Tension? If a body is in tension, the overall forces are pulling away from the object. Tension can be related to pulling on the ends of a rod. Tension is a force promulgation method. Compression and tension forces are very important considerations whenever a structure is being built or used.

In general, any object has a tolerance for compression and tension, and exceeding these tolerances results in damage to the object. Such damage is either a permanent lengthening or shortening, a lateral bend or even a break, where previously continuous material is physically severed. When an object such as a beam is being bent, it is actually subject to both compression and tension at the same time.

When you play tug-of-war, the rope is under tension. The tension per unit area the area referred to here is the cross-sectional area, which is at right angles to the force is often referred to as tensile stress. The term tensile strain refers to the increase in length divided by the original length of the body. Compression refers to forces that attempt to shorten an object. For example, if you push down on a spring you are exerting a compressive force on it.

If compressive forces act along one direction, the compression is called uniaxial. If the compressive forces act along two or three directions, they are termed biaxial and triaxial compression respectively. The compressive force per unit area once again, we refer to the cross-sectional area here of the object is called compressive stress.