tensile and compressive forces

Tensile forces are forces that pull or stretch an object, trying to elongate it. For example, when you suspend a weight from a rope, the rope experiences tension as it stretches to support the load. Compressive forces, on the other hand, push or squeeze an object, causing it to shorten or deform. An example is a column supporting a building’s weight—pressure compresses it downward. Both forces are fundamental in engineering, helping to determine how materials and structures will behave under different loads.