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More about Torque
Torque is a measure of the extent to which a force on an object causes the object to rotate. Torque is the product of the length from the pivot point to the point where force is applied and the magnitude of the force.
The SI measures torque in the units of Newton-meters (force*distance) (N*m), which is the same as a Joule. However, Joule is a unit for energy, so physicists avoid using it to describe torque because torque is not energy. This is not standard world-wide as other units are used to describe torque depending on what system a country uses. For example, sometimes foot-pound is used for car engine.
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Torque can be used for levers or wrenches. Torque is used to help us figure out various forces such as the force applied and the lever arm. Torque can provide the magnitude and direction of a rotational force. This means it can predict whether there will be clockwise motion or counterclockwise motion.
The SI measures torque in the units of Newton-meters (force*distance) (N*m), which is the same as a Joule. However, Joule is a unit for energy, so physicists avoid using it to describe torque because torque is not energy. This is not standard world-wide as other units are used to describe torque depending on what system a country uses. For example, sometimes foot-pound is used for car engine.
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Torque can be used for levers or wrenches. Torque is used to help us figure out various forces such as the force applied and the lever arm. Torque can provide the magnitude and direction of a rotational force. This means it can predict whether there will be clockwise motion or counterclockwise motion.
Relationship between Torque and force
Torque is both similar and quite different from force. Torque is similar to force in that it results in a special form of a force. It is sometimes called a rotational force. The difference between torque and a force is that a force is a linear push, while torque measures the extent to which a force (push or pull) causes rotations of an axis around its center. Just as a force can cause something to move linearly, a torque can cause something to accelerate angularly. Torque can cause something to spin or rotate it from rest, just like a force causes something to move linearly from rest. Both torque and force act similarly at equilibrium. If something is at equilibrium, its opposite forces or torques are equal and as a result, the object on which the forces or torques are applied is either at rest or moving at constant speed. The measurements for torque and force are different as well. Force is measured in Newtons. Torque is measured in Newton*meters. Equation-wise, Force is literally a part of torque. The equation for torque is: Torque = Force*lever arm
Why is Torque important?
Torque helps us answer some key questions in physics. Of course, it is not completely necessary to contemplate over the amount of rotational force (torque) one applies on a wrench or lever, but in physics, the concept of torque is very important. Torque provides the magnitude and direction of a rotational force. This means it can predict whether there will be clockwise motion or counterclockwise motion. Torque also helps in predicting the angular acceleration.
Important Vocabulary
Here are important vocabulary terms that you will encounter when doing torque problems.
Pivot and fulcrum
The pivot point and fulcrum are basically synonymous. The pivot and fulcrum are the points of rotation of a lever. The fulcrum is more of a point against which lever is placed or on which it turns or is supported. The pivot, on the other hand, is an object (short shaft or pin) on which something turns or oscillates.
Different types of Fulcrum
There are 2 different types of fulcrum: physical fulcrum and mathematical fulcrum.
Evidently, they embody one similar concept: fulcrum. However, a physical fulcrum refers to the one physical point at which the fulcrum resides, while a mathematical fulcrum is more conceptional. A mathematical fulcrum can be any point on an object that helps us calculate the value of torque.
Evidently, they embody one similar concept: fulcrum. However, a physical fulcrum refers to the one physical point at which the fulcrum resides, while a mathematical fulcrum is more conceptional. A mathematical fulcrum can be any point on an object that helps us calculate the value of torque.
Lever Arm
Lever arm = rsin(theta)
The lever arm (moment arm) is the perpendicular distance from the fulcrum to the center of action of the weight.
The lever arm (moment arm) is the perpendicular distance from the fulcrum to the center of action of the weight.
Line-of-action
The line-of-action is the path on which a force or multiple forces act. It is the line through the point at which force is applied and along the direction in which force is applied.
Center of MAss
What is the center-of-mass? How is it related to Torque?
The terms "center of mass" and "center of gravity" are used synonymously in a uniform gravity field to represent the unique point in an object or system which can be used to describe the system's response to external forces and torques. The concept of the center of mass is the position of the average of all the masses of an object or system.In one plane, that is like the balancing of a seesaw about a pivot point with respect to the torques produced.
The terms "center of mass" and "center of gravity" are used synonymously in a uniform gravity field to represent the unique point in an object or system which can be used to describe the system's response to external forces and torques. The concept of the center of mass is the position of the average of all the masses of an object or system.In one plane, that is like the balancing of a seesaw about a pivot point with respect to the torques produced.
ReFerences
- http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fulcrum
- http://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/tutorials/torque/Q.torque.intro.html
- htttp://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys211/lectures/torq/torq_all.html
- http://www.100autoguide.com/dictionary/en-sp/units/conversion_tables/torque.ht
- http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/force_torque.htm
- http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/cm.html