Here's a breakdown:

* Stress: Stress is a measure of the internal forces acting within a material, specifically the force per unit area.

* Tensile stress: When a force is applied to a material in a way that tends to pull it apart, the stress is called tensile stress.

* Tensile strength: The maximum tensile stress a material can withstand before it breaks is called its tensile strength.

Example: Imagine pulling on a rubber band. The force you apply is creating a tensile stress in the rubber band. The more you pull, the higher the tensile stress. Eventually, if you pull hard enough, the rubber band will break.

Important Note: The term "tensile force" is sometimes used interchangeably with "tensile stress." However, "tensile force" technically refers to the actual force applied, while "tensile stress" is the force per unit area within the material.