What is tensile strength?

Tensile strength refers specifically to the resistance of a material to being pulled apart when subjected to tension. This property is crucial in engineering and materials science because it defines how much tensile stress a material can withstand before failure occurs. It is measured by applying force to a material until it deforms or breaks. Materials with high tensile strength are essential in applications where they must support loads without stretching or breaking.

In contrast, the other options refer to different material properties. Characteristics such as stiffness under weight relate to compressive strength, resistance to heat deformation pertains to thermal properties, and the ability to absorb vibrations is associated with damping properties. Each of these attributes serves specific functions, but they do not define tensile strength, which is solely focused on the ability to resist tensile forces.