Which type of force tends to pull material apart?

The type of force that tends to pull material apart is tension. Tension is a pulling force that is applied to a material, causing it to elongate or stretch. This force occurs when two ends of an object are pulled away from each other. For example, when a rope is pulled at both ends, it experiences tension.

In the context of building construction, understanding tension is vital as it affects how structures like beams and cables behave under load. Engineers must account for tension when designing structures to ensure safety and stability, particularly in applications such as bridges, where cables are used to support large spans.

The other forces listed, while important in their own right, do not involve pulling materials apart. Compression involves pushing forces that tend to squeeze materials together, shear refers to forces that cause parts of a material to slide past each other, and torque involves twisting forces that can cause rotation around an axis. Understanding these distinctions helps in the overall design and analysis of structures and materials in construction.