A pulling force directed away from an object that attempts to stretch or elongate the object is a:

A pulling force that is directed away from an object and attempts to stretch or elongate it is identified as a tension load. This type of load acts to create tension within the material, resulting in stretching along its length. When external forces pull on an object from opposite ends, they create a state of tension, which can be critical in structural applications, load-bearing scenarios, and material selection.

In contrast, a compression load involves forces that push or compress the material, leading to shortening rather than stretching. Torsion refers to twisting forces applied to an object, while shear load involves forces that act parallel to a material's cross-section, causing it to fail along a plane. Each of these loads affects materials differently, but tension specifically pertains to elongation and stretching forces.