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Rotational convention

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examWritten by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

In physics, rotational convention refers to using positive/negative signs for torques based on their direction relative to a chosen reference point or axis. Clockwise torques are typically considered negative (-), while counterclockwise torques are positive (+).

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