Torque Physics Example 1

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Example 1

easy
A force of 20 N20 \text{ N} is applied at the end of a 0.5 m0.5 \text{ m} wrench, perpendicular to the wrench. What is the torque produced?

Solution

  1. 1
    Torque is the rotational equivalent of force: τ=rFsin⁡θ\tau = rF\sin\theta.
  2. 2
    Since the force is perpendicular to the lever arm, θ=90°\theta = 90° and sin⁡90°=1\sin 90° = 1.
  3. 3
    τ=rF=0.5×20=10 N m\tau = rF = 0.5 \times 20 = 10 \text{ N m}

Answer

τ=10 N m\tau = 10 \text{ N m}
Torque measures the tendency of a force to cause rotation. It depends on the force magnitude, the distance from the pivot point, and the angle between the force and the lever arm.

About Torque

The rotational equivalent of force; a measure of how much a force tends to cause an object to rotate about an axis.

Learn more about Torque →

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