Deformation & Compression
- Forces don’t just change the motion of a body, but can change the size and shape of them too
- This is known as deformation
- Forces in opposite directions stretch or compress a body
- When two forces stretch a body, they are described as tensile
- When two forces compress a body, they are known as compressive
Diagram of tensile and compressive forces
- When a force (load) is applied to a spring, it produces a tensile force and causes the spring to extend
- When a force is applied in the opposite direction, the spring compresses
Stretching a spring with a load produces a force that leads to an extension
