Chapter5A TORQUE
Chapter5A TORQUE
Torque is a twist
or turn that tends
to produce
rotation. * * *
Applications are
found in many
common tools
around the home
or industry where
it is necessary to
turn, tighten or
loosen devices.
Objectives: After completing this
lecture, you should be able to:
• Define and give examples of the terms torque,
moment arm, axis, and line of action of a force.
• Draw, label and calculate the moment arms for
a variety of applied forces given an axis of
rotation.
• Calculate the resultant torque about any axis
given the magnitude and locations of forces on
an extended object.
• Optional: Define and apply the vector cross
product to calculate torque.
Definition of Torque
Torque is defined as the tendency to
produce a change in rotational motion.
Examples:
Torque is Determined by Three Factors:
• The magnitude of the applied force.
• The direction of the applied force.
• The location of the applied force.
Magnitude
Locationofofof
Direction force
force
Force
Each
TheThe 40-N
of the
forces force
20-Nthe
nearer
forces
produces 20 N q
end ofhas
theatwice
different
wrenchthe
2020
N
torque
torque as
duedoes
to the
the q 20 20NN
40NN
have greater torques.
direction
20-N force.
of force. 20 N
20 N
Units for Torque
Torque is proportional to the magnitude of
F and to the distance r from the axis. Thus,
a tentative formula might be:
t = (40 N)(0.60 m)
= 24.0 Nm, cw
6 cm
t = 24.0 Nm, cw 40 N
Direction of Torque
Torque is a vector quantity that has
direction as well as magnitude.
F2
F1 Line of F3
action
The Moment Arm
The moment arm of a force is the perpendicular
distance from the line of action of a force to the
axis of rotation.
F1 r
F2 r
F3
r
Calculating Torque
• Read problem and draw a rough figure.
• Extend line of action of the force.
• Draw and label moment arm.
• Calculate the moment arm if necessary.
• Apply definition of torque:
positive
12 cm
each force. r
300 300
Consider 20-N 6m 2m
force first: A 4m
40 N
Find t due to 30 N r
negative
20 N
30 N 20 N
Resultant torque
is the sum of 300 300
individual torques. 6m 2m
A 4m
40 N
tR = - 80 N m Clockwise
Experiment 07
Moments (Torque) 26 (5A)
Experiment 05
The Law of Moments (Torque and
Center of Gravity) 16 (05A)