The Gough–Joule effect (a.k.a. Gow–Joule effect) is originally the tendency of elastomers to contract when heated if they are under tension. Elastomers that are not under tension do not see this effect. The term is also used more generally to refer to the dependence of the temperature of any solid on the mechanical deformation. This effect can be observed in nylon strings of classical guitars, whereby the string contracts as a result of heating. The effect is due to the decrease of entropy when long chain molecules are stretched.