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Understanding Torque in Physics

This document provides an overview of torque, defined as the ability of a force to rotate a body about an axis, with the formula τ = Fd. It explains the sign convention for torque, where positive indicates counterclockwise rotation and negative indicates clockwise rotation, and describes how to calculate net torque from multiple forces. An example is included to illustrate the calculation of torque using a specific force and lever arm distance.

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Zulhilmi Hamdi
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40 views4 pages

Understanding Torque in Physics

This document provides an overview of torque, defined as the ability of a force to rotate a body about an axis, with the formula τ = Fd. It explains the sign convention for torque, where positive indicates counterclockwise rotation and negative indicates clockwise rotation, and describes how to calculate net torque from multiple forces. An example is included to illustrate the calculation of torque using a specific force and lever arm distance.

Uploaded by

Zulhilmi Hamdi
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

1

Physics for Engineers (PH 121E)


Module 3
Torque

Torque

1. Torque or Moment [Greek letter ‘tau’ (τ)] = the ability of a force to rotate
a body about some axis.
a) The torque due to a force ofhas a magnitude of
F→

τ =Fd .

i) τ ≡ torque (N·m).
ii) F ≡ applied force (N).
iii) d ≡ lever arm (also called the moment arm) distance.

b) The lever arm is the perpendicular (⊥) distance from the


axis of rotation to a line drawn along the direction of the
force.
y

r F

φ
x
φ

d
2

2. Sign Convention
a) τ is positive (+) if the rotation is counterclockwise (CCW).

b) τ is negative (-) if the rotation is clockwise (CW).


y

positive
torque
(CCW)

negative
torque
(CW)

3. The net torque is found by summing all torques (i.e., multiple


forces acting on a rotating object).
N
Σ
τnet = τi = τ 1 +τ 2 +· · ·+τN = F1d1+F2d2+· · ·+FNdN
i=1

Example:
A steel band exerts a horizontal force of 80.0 N on a tooth at
point B in the figure below. What is the torque on the root of
the tooth about point A?
3

I. Given:
F = 80 N
r = 1.2 cm

II. Find:
a. Torque (τ) = ?

III. Solution:
y

r = 1.20 cm
r d

48.0o

φ = 42.0o

The distance from point A to point B is r = 1.20 cm = 1.20 × 10−2 m.


As can be seen from the figure above, to solve for the lever arm,

SOH
sin θ = opp
hyp
=d
r
d = r sin θ
= (1.20 × 10−2 m) sin 42.0◦ = 8.03 × 10−3 m

This gives a torque of


4

τ = Fd = (80.0 N)(8.03 × 10−3m) = 0.642 N · m

Since the torque is positive, it is in the counterclockwise direction.

Prepared By: Prof. Engr. Muhamad-Ali K. Dimapalao, RME, MSME

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