Torque

Torque: Terms and definitions

Close the Door When we apply the force the door turns on its hinges. Thus a turning effect (torque) is produced when we try to open the door...

Torque and Balancing The concept of balancing torques is very familiar to us: When Dad who has more mass (therefore greater weight force) wants to balance the see-saw with little Billy. He has to sit closer to the middle. This is because for the see-saw to balance, the Torques produced by their weights must be equal in magnitude.

Clockwise or Anti-clockwise?

“Righty-tighty” and “lefty-loosey”. This is what we can use to distinguish between a clockwise or anti clockwise torque. Picture the pivot as a bolt, the radius as a wrench and the force as the force your arm would produce. The bolt would turn… Clockwise The torque produced is the same way the bolt would move: into the page. The bolt would turn… Anti – Clockwise The torque produced is the same way the bolt would move: out of the page.