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.

See also

• surface tension
• tensile stress
• Tensile architecture

External link

• A Connectionist Approach to Driving Chord Progressions Using Tension by Andrés Melo and Geraint Wiggins, .PDF format