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Torque
What is it?
Torque is a measurement of the tendency of a force to produce a rotation about an axis.
This is mathematically represented by force times lever arm length.
Wrench
- Longer arm = easier to loosen a screw
- Think of your own example of torque!
Torque Rotation
- Counterclockwise is positive
- Clockwise is negative
- True even if object is balanced and the torque attempts to cause a rotation
Right Hand Rule
Units
- Fingers point in direction of r
- Curl fingers in direction of force
- Thumb will end up pointing in the direction of the torque vector
Based on these vectors, is the torque going into or out of the page?
- Torque is measured in Newton-meters
- What else is measured in Newton-meters?
Practice
Ned tightens a bolt in his car engine by exerting 12 N of force on his wrench at a distance of 0.40 m from the fulcrum. How much torque must Ned produce to turn the bolt?
- Given
- Unknown
- Equation
- Solve
Multiple Torques
More Practice!
- The total torque of a system is the sum of all the individual torques.
- Torque total = (F1 x d1) + (F2 x d2) etc....may be more than two!
- When an object is balanced, the torques must balance. (T = 0) Equal and opposite torques.
- Remember: Counterclockwise is positive, clockwise is negative.
Mabel and Maude are seesawing on the school playground and decide to see if they can move to the correct location to make the seesaw balance. Mabel weighs 400 N and she sits 2.00 m from the fulcrum of the seesaw. Where should 450 N Maude sit to balance the seesaw? You may want to draw a diagram to help.
- Given
- Unknown
- Equation
- Solve
Center of Gravity/Mass
- Remember: point on an object that acts like the place at which all the weight is concentrated
- When torques are equal on both sides of the center of gravity, the object is balanced
- If not, rotation occurs
- If object is not supported at center of gravity, it will produce a torque and rotate