Q&A for How to Calculate Tension in Physics

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Question

What will the dimension of tension be?

Bess Ruff, MA
Environmental Scientist
Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. She received her MA in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group.

Bess Ruff, MA

Environmental Scientist

Expert Answer

Tension is measured in Newtons.

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Question

What is the main formula for tension?

Bess Ruff, MA
Environmental Scientist
Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. She received her MA in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group.

Bess Ruff, MA

Environmental Scientist

Expert Answer

Tension (Ft) = Force of gravity (Fg) = m × g

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Does tension always act in the opposite direction of an applied force?

Community Answer

This is one of Newton's laws! It doesn't just apply to tension, but to ANY force on an object, there is an equal force in the opposite direction. In the case of tension, it can only act in the direction parallel to the object it is in (like a rope or truss member).

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What if I am not given the mass?

Community Answer

If you are not given the mass of an object, you most likely would be given the already calculated force. For example, 10kg x 9.8 = 98N, therefore you should have a force of 98 newtons shown in the diagram or in the question.

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Question

How would calculation be done if the multiple strands of ropes weren't perpendicular?

Mathwizurd29

Community Answer

You would solve the horizontal and vertical components separately. Gravity equals the sum of the vertical components of the strings, and the horizontal components equal each other.

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Question

If I am given mass and density, what formula will I use?

Community Answer

F = m x a still applies. Ignore density unless you have the volume, in which case you must first solve for mass using the density.

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Question

Why does the tension force have to be the same on both ends of a rope?

Community Answer

The tension must be even for accurate results.

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Question

How do I calculate tension on a pivot?

Community Answer

Force x distance= Distance x t1. Then solve for t1. The distances are from the pivot you are trying to work out. Then subtract this answer from the weight of the beam and it should give you the answer.

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Question

How do I find tension if I only know the weight and the angle?

James Wnek

Community Answer

Solve for the vertical component first. You then should use trig to calculate the true tension based on the angle that is given.

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Question

If a rope is bent over a pulley or hook, with a weight of 10 tons on each end of the rope, what is the tension in the rope over the pulley or hook? Is it 20 tons?

James Wnek

Community Answer

The tension would be 5 tons on each "side" of the rope. That way, the vertical components would cancel out, and the rope would not sway to one side or the other.

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How do I calculate object density?

Community Answer

Divide its mass by its volume (both should be provided) IE if Object A is 10m^3 and weighs 100N, it has a density of 1kg/m^3 (assuming g is 10).

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Question

What if the tension force has volume?

Community Answer

A force will never have a volume. Volumes are properties of objects. Perhaps the force is acting on an object and the object's volume was given to you. You might have to find the mass from the density and volume.

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Question

In tension physics, what is T=mg-ma for?

Community Answer

T = mg - ma represents lifting an object up a rope or rope-like object, where the weight of the object is calculated first, and then the upward acceleration you are carrying it by is subtracted from it because they are in the exact opposite directions.

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Question

How do I solve tension when it has speed?

Community Answer

When given speed, you must find the acceleration. You can use relationships like the time-independent question or the velocity equation. Then, you can plug your calculated acceleration into F=ma to find tension.

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