Tension

Tension may mean:

• In Physics, tension is a force on a body directed to produce strain (extension); it can be considered to be negative compression. It is measured in according units (Newton, dynes, pounds-force, etc). Tension is the dominant static force acting on such objects as a Vibrating string or a stretched Rubber band.

Hooke's law states the relation between the stress on an object and the resultant increase in its length. The modulus of elasticity of a spring or elastic string can be used to calculate the force it exerts under a specific extension.

• The word 'tension' is also sometimes used to refer to electrical voltage; this is the usage in the term high-tension line.

• Colloquially, 'tension' is used to refer to physiological or mental stress.

• In Music tension is the perceived need for Relaxation or release (Sturm und Drang) created by a listener's expectations as well as Dissonance, Repetition, Tempo, a gradual rise in pitch, and other factors.

• In Phonetics, Tenseness describes a certain sound quality.

See also

• Surface tension
• Tensile stress
• Tensile architecture

Tension is not always associated in a good way