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.
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
end ofhas
theatwice
different
wrenchthe 20 N q
2020
N
20NN
torque
torque
have as
due
greater does
to the
the
torques. q 20 N
40 N
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 = Fr Units: Nm or lbft
t = (40 N)(0.060 m)
= 2.40 Nm, cw
6 cm
t = 2.40 Nm, cw 40 N
Direction of Torque
Torque is a vector quantity that has
direction as well as magnitude.
Turning the handle of a
screwdriver clockwise and
then counterclockwise will
advance the screw first
inward and then outward.
Sign Convention for Torque
By convention, counterclockwise torques are
positive and clockwise torques are negative.
Positive torque: ccw
Counter-clockwise,
out of page
cw
Negative torque:
clockwise, into page
Line of Action of a Force
The line of action of a force is an imaginary
line of indefinite length drawn along the
direction of the force.
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:
t = Fr Torque = force x moment arm
Example 1: An 80-N force acts at the end of
a 12-cm wrench as shown. Find the torque.
• Extend line of action, draw, calculate r.
r = 12 cm sin 600 t = (80 N)(0.104 m)
= 10.4 cm = 8.32 N m
Alternate: An 80-N force acts at the end of
a 12-cm wrench as shown. Find the torque.
positive
12 cm
Resolve 80-N force into components as shown.
Note from figure: rx = 0 and ry = 12 cm
t = (69.3 N)(0.12 m) t = 8.32 N m as before
Calculating Resultant Torque
• Read, draw, and label a rough figure.
• Draw free-body diagram showing all forces,
distances, and axis of rotation.
• Extend lines of action for each force.
• Calculate moment arms if necessary.
• Calculate torques due to EACH individual force
affixing proper sign. CCW (+) and CW (-).
• Resultant torque is sum of individual torques.
Example 2: Find resultant torque about
axis A for the arrangement shown below:
Find t due to 30 N negative 20 N
each force. 300
r
300
Consider 20-N 6m 2m
A 4m
force first: 40 N
r = (4 m) sin 300 The torque about A is
= 2.00 m clockwise and negative.
t = Fr = (20 N)(2 m) t20 = -40 N m
= 40 N m, cw
Example 2 (Cont.): Next we find torque
due to 30-N force about same axis A.
Find t due to 30 N r
negative
20 N
each force. 300 300
Consider 30-N 6m 2m
A 4m
force next. 40 N
r = (8 m) sin 300 The torque about A is
= 4.00 m clockwise and negative.
t = Fr = (30 N)(4 m) t30 = -120 N m
= 120 N m, cw
Example 2 (Cont.): Finally, we consider
the torque due to the 40-N force.
Find t due to 30 N positive 20 N
each force. 300 r 300
Consider 40-N 6m 2m
A 4m
force next: 40 N
r = (2 m) sin 900 The torque about A is
= 2.00 m CCW and positive.
t = Fr = (40 N)(2 m) t40 = +80 N m
= 80 N m, ccw
Example 2 (Conclusion): Find resultant
torque about axis A for the arrangement
shown below:
30 N 20 N
Resultant torque
is the sum of 300 300
individual torques. 6m 2m
A 4m
40 N
tR = t20 + t30 + t40 = -40 N m -120 N m + 80 N m
tR = - 80 N m Clockwise
Sample Problem
A 20-centimeter wrench is
used to loosen a bolt. The
force is applied 0.20 m from
the bolt. The torque required
to loosen the bolt 10 Nm
• How much force would it take if the force was
applied at a 30-degree angle as shown in the
illustration?
Summary
Torque is the product of a force and its
moment arm as defined below:
The moment arm of a force is the perpendicular distance
from the line of action of a force to the axis of rotation.
The line of action of a force is an imaginary line of
indefinite length drawn along the direction of the force.
t = Fr Torque = force x moment arm
