Tension and compression are two important forces that help keep buildings strong and safe.

1. Tension:

• Tension usually happens in things like cables and ropes.
• A good example is suspension bridges. They have main cables that can hold heavy loads, sometimes up to 2,000 tonnes!
• To understand how tension works, we can use a simple formula:

$\sigma = \frac{F}{A}$

In this formula, (F) means force, and (A) stands for the area.

2. Compression:

• Compression works on things like columns and beams in a structure.
• For example, concrete columns can handle a lot of pressure, up to 40 MPa (megapascals).
• When slim columns are pushed hard, they can bend or buckle. We can find the critical load that causes this bending using another formula:

$P_{cr} = \frac{\pi^2 E I}{L^2}$

Here, (E) is the elasticity, (I) is the moment of inertia, and (L) is the length.

Using tension and compression helps make sure that buildings and other structures are sturdy and safe for everyone.