Tensió

Tensió is the term used in Catalan to describe two related but distinct concepts: mechanical tension and electrical tension. The word derives from Latin tensio, meaning stretching or binding force.

In mechanics, tensió (tensió mecànica) refers to the internal force per unit area that resists elongation of a material. When a body is pulled along its length, forces create tensile stress. It is quantified as sigma = F/A, with the SI unit of pascal (Pa). Materials respond with strain, described by constitutive relations such as Hooke’s law for elastic materials. Tensió is distinguished from compression: tensile states elongate the material. Common examples include cables, ropes, and structural members in bridges and tall buildings. The strength limit, failure mode, and safety factors are key design considerations.

In electronics, tensió refers to the electric potential difference between two points, the driving force for current. Measured in volts (V). A higher tensió can push more current through a resistance according to Ohm’s law V = IR. Sources such as batteries, power supplies, or generators provide tensió. In alternating current systems, tensió varies with time, often described by its root-mean-square (RMS) value.

Measurement: voltmeters measure electrical tensió; devices such as strain gauges or tensiometers measure mechanical tensió, converting it to readable signals.