Torque
Definition
Torque refers to the measure of how effectively a force can cause an object to rotate around a fixed axis. It depends on both the magnitude and direction of the applied force.
Analogy
Think about opening a door using a doorknob. The farther away from the hinges you apply force, the easier it is to open because you increase torque by increasing leverage.
Related terms
Lever Arm: Also known as moment arm, it is the perpendicular distance between the axis of rotation and where the force is applied.
Center of Mass: The average position of all mass in an object, often used as reference for calculating torque.
Equilibrium: A state where all torques acting on an object balance each other out, resulting in no net rotational motion.
"Torque" appears in:
Study guides (3)
Additional resources (3)
Practice Questions (15)
What is the torque needed for an object with a moment of inertia of 0.25kgm^2 at rest to reach an angular acceleration of 3 rad/s^2
Suppose an object experiences an initial torque of 15 N*m while lying down on a rough table. It stops spinning after making 1.5 revolutions. What is the work done by friction in bringing the object to rest?
If the net torque on a rod is -5.0 N*m and a person already applies a torque of 10.0 N*m, what torque must the other person be applying to the rod? Assume standard rotational convention.
If a person with a mass of 65 kg sits on 3m away from a seesaw's fulcrum, what is the magnitude of the torque they apply?
What is the torque produced if a person applies a 6N force at the end of a 0.4 m long wrench at a 60 degree angle?
If a force of F is applied perpendicularlly to the end of a wrench with length L, which of the following scenarios will double the torque 't' currently applied to the wrench?
What direction is the torque applied on an object if it initially starts off at rest and ends with an angular acceleration of -4 rad/s^2? Assume standard rotational conventions.
Torque is the rotational analogue of what quantity?
If an object's moment of inertia remains constant but its angular acceleration quadruples, how is the torque affected?
If a person applies a force perpendicularly to a wrench, where along the wrench will they be able to produce the greatest torque?
Which of the following is not a valid mathematical representation of torque?
If a person applies a force perpendicularly to a wrench, where along the wrench will they be able to produce the greatest torque?
What equation can be used to solve for torque?
How does torque change as radius is decreased linearly?
What should you use to find the direction of torque if you know the directions of radius and force?
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