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Torque
Torque
Physics
Torque
Force is the action that creates
changes in linear motion.
For rotational motion, the same force can
cause very different results.
A torque is an action that causes objects to
rotate.
A torque is required to rotate an object, just
as a force is required to move an object in a
line.
Torque is created by force, but it also depends on
where the force is applied and the point about which
the object rotates.
6 cm
40 N
Units for Torque
6 cm
40 N
= (-40 N)(0.60 m)
= 24.0 Nm, cw
= -24.0 Nm, cw
Force and lever arm are not always
perpendicular
When the force and lever arm are not
perpendicular, an extra step is required to
calculate the length of the lever arm.
= Fr Sin θ
Example 1: An 80-N force acts at the end of
a 12-cm wrench as shown. Find the torque.
Find due to 30 N r
negative
20 N
R = - 80 N m Clockwise
You try…
A 20-centimeter wrench is used to loosen a bolt. The
force is applied 0.20 m from the bolt. It takes 50
newtons to loosen the bolt when the force is applied
perpendicular to the wrench. How much force would
it take if the force was applied at a 30-degree angle
from perpendicular?
Calculate the torque supplied by
the wrench when an 8 N force is
applied as shown in the following
figure.
If the force applied is perpendicular to
the handle of the spanner as shown in
the diagram, find the (i) torque exerted
by the force about the center of the nut,
(ii) direction of torque and (iii) type of
rotation caused by the torque about the
nut.
A crane has an arm length of 20 m inclined at 30o with the
vertical. It carries a container of mass of 2 ton suspended
from the top end of the arm. Find the torque produced by
the gravitational force on the container about the point
where the arm is fixed to the crane. [Given: 1 ton = 1000
kg; neglect the weight of the arm. g = 10 ms-2]
Three forces labeled A, B, C are applied to a rod which pivots on
an axis thru its center
[ cos(450 ) sin(450 ) 1/ 2 1/1.414
]
C
L
2F
L/2
45o
A B
F L/4
F
A) A B) B C) C
D) two or more forces tie for largest size torque.
A door is pushed on by two forces, a smaller force at the door knob
and a larger force nearer the hinge as shown. The door does not
move.
Small force.
hinge
y
x Big force
A) is zero
B) points (along +y)
C) points (along -y)
D) points (lower right, in diagram)
E) points in some other direction
A mass M is placed on a very light board supported at the ends,
as shown. The free-body diagram shows directions of the
forces, but not their correct relative sizes.
FL FR
M
Mg
(2/3)L L/3
FR
What is the ratio FL?
(Hint: consider the torque about the mass M).
planet y
S x
With the origin located at the Sun, the vector torque on the planet..
B
A L/2
L
2m
B
A L/2
L
2m
Hint
I