A force applied on a body through a string is called _________?

The force applied on a body through a string is called Tension. In physics, tension is a pulling force transmitted along a rope, string, cable, or any flexible connector when it is stretched by forces acting at both ends. Tension always acts away from the object and along the length of the string.

When you pull on one end of a rope attached to an object, the molecules inside the rope stretch slightly and exert an equal and opposite force to maintain equilibrium. This internal restoring force is what we call tension. It is an example of a contact force, but unlike normal force or friction, tension only acts along the direction of the string.

Mathematically, tension can be analyzed using Newton’s Second Law (F = ma). For instance, if a block is hanging by a string, the tension (T) in the string balances the weight (W = mg) of the block when the system is at rest. If the block accelerates upward or downward, tension changes according to the net force acting on it.

Tension plays an important role in many real-life situations. It keeps elevators suspended by cables, helps cranes lift heavy loads, and controls the motion of objects in pulleys and pendulums. In sports, tension appears in tug-of-war ropes and string instruments like guitars and violins, where it determines sound pitch.

It is also important to note that tension cannot push an object — it only pulls. When a string goes slack, the tension becomes zero because the rope can no longer transmit any force.

In short, tension is the pulling force transmitted through a stretched flexible medium, keeping connected bodies in mechanical balance and enabling the transfer of energy and motion efficiently in physical systems.