Next  |  Prev  |  Up  |  Top  |  Index  |  JOS Index  |  JOS Pubs  |  JOS Home  |  Search


String Tension

The tension of a vibrating string is the force $ F$ used to stretch it. It is therefore directed along the axis of the string. A force $ F$ must be applied at the endpoint on the right, and a force $ -F$ is applied at the endpoint on the left. Each point interior to the string is pulled equally to the left and right, i.e., the net force on an interior point is $ F + (-F) = 0$ . (A nonzero force on a massless point would produce an infinite acceleration.)

If the cross-sectional area of the string is $ S$ , then the tension is given by the stress on the string times $ S$ .


Next  |  Prev  |  Up  |  Top  |  Index  |  JOS Index  |  JOS Pubs  |  JOS Home  |  Search

[How to cite this work]  [Order a printed hardcopy]  [Comment on this page via email]

``Physical Audio Signal Processing'', by Julius O. Smith III, W3K Publishing, 2010, ISBN 978-0-9745607-2-4
Copyright © 2023-08-20 by Julius O. Smith III
Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA),   Stanford University
CCRMA