Negative tension possible?

Question

If tension can be expressed as force (F=ma), is it possible to yield a negative tension value under the law of physics? Example, you have a negative acceleration multiplied with a mass that gives you a negative number.

Answer 1

if it is negative then it is no longer tension it is compression

Answer 2

Don't get confused. But force is a vector which means it has a magnitude and direction the sign (positive or negative) is just an indication of direction.

A negative acceleration is the same as hitting the brakes and a positive acceleration is like hitting the gas.

Answer 3

By definition, negative tension is called compression.
It is exactly the same except the forces are pressing in and not pulling out.

This is known in all of physics and engineering but I will give you a source below.

Answer 4

take the example of a weight hanging from a string (vertically.) if you call gravity down to be negative, then tension + mg = 0 and tension is positive because sum of forces equals zero. (plug in negative ten, it works.)
if you call gravity down to be positive, then it is the opposite, and tension is negative (sum of forces is 0, newton's laws)