Tension, for me, is a tricky thing.

After finishing a related chapter of my book and watching a video, I still can't get a hang of it.

Here is a situation:

My knowledge is that tension, just like normal force, happens in just the same way, but with the difference of a string attached.

It is understandable that in the picture, the string attached to the hanging mass has a tension directed upward, because it's weight is directed downward. (Action and reaction)

But what intrigues me is that applying the same logic, the horizontal mass is being pulled to the right, it would have been understandable if the tension is directed to the left.

also

Does this ever happen?

Tension, for me, is a tricky thing.

After finishing a related chapter of my book and watching a video, I still can't get a hang of it.

Here is a situation:

My knowledge is that tension, just like normal force, happens in just the same way, but with the difference of a string attached.

It is understandable that in the picture, the string attached to the hanging mass has a tension directed upward, because it's weight is directed downward. (Action and reaction)

But what intrigues me is that applying the same logic, the horizontal mass is being pulled to the right, it would have been understandable if the tension is directed to the left.

also Can I think of tension as the reaction force when you pull, and normal force when you push?

update If I was to think tension as a reaction force in the first picture for the horizontal mass, then can the frictional force be the action force? (Ehh, I don't think that makes sentence. Friction is always reaction)

Tension, for me, is a tricky thing.

After finishing a related chapter of my book and watching a video, I still can't get a hang of it.

Here is a situation:

My knowledge is that tension, just like normal force, happens in just the same way, but with the difference of a string attached.

It is understandable that in the picture, the string attached to the hanging mass has a tension directed upward, because it's weight is directed downward. (Action and reaction)

But what intrigues me is that applying the same logic, the horizontal mass is being pulled to the right, it would have been understandable if the tension is directed to the left.

also

Does this ever happen?

Tension, for me, is a tricky thing.

After finishing a related chapter of my book and watching a video, I still can't get a hang of it.

Here is a situation:

My knowledge is that tension, just like normal force, happens in just the same way, but with the difference of a string attached.

It is understandable that in the picture, the string attached to the hanging mass has a tension directed upward, because it's weight is directed downward. (Action and reaction)

But what intrigues me is that applying the same logic, the horizontal mass is being pulled to the right, it would have been understandable if the tension is directed to the left.

also

Does this ever happen?