The force caused by pulling on a rope, cable, or string?

• A. Tension
• B. Gravity
• C. Force
• D. Friction

Answer: (A)

Tension is the pulling force transmitted along a rope, cable, or string. When you pull on a taut rope, that force travels along the length of the rope and pulls on whatever the rope is attached to. In simple cases with a light, inextensible rope and no acceleration, the tension is the same throughout the rope, so the force you apply at one end is felt at the other end as a pull.

Think of it like this: the rope acts like a springy connector that transmits your pull. Gravity and friction are different forces; gravity pulls objects toward the Earth, and friction resists sliding between surfaces. The term force is very general, but tension specifically refers to the pulling force inside a rope, cable, or string.