How does tension keep a rope, cable, or bridge span supported?
Quick Answer
Tension is the pulling force transmitted through a rope or cable when it is stretched tight. In suspension bridges, the main cables carry the load in tension.
The Full Story
Tension is one of the basic forces in mechanics and acts along a stretched rope, cable, or chain. Unlike compression, which pushes inward, tension pulls outward along the length of the material. In a suspension bridge, such as the Golden Gate Bridge or the Brooklyn Bridge, the roadway hangs from vertical suspenders attached to main cables. Those cables transfer the load to the towers and anchorages. Engineers calculate tension carefully because cables can support very large loads if the material is strong enough.
Key Facts
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"Why don’t cables just snap under huge loads?"
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