Torque
A force can turn things round an axis: a door round its hinges, a nut round its bolt, a see-saw round its pivot. This turning effect is called torque, or the moment of a force. It is the force multiplied by its distance from the axis, measured in newton metres, so a small force far from the axis can turn as hard as a big force close to it. That is why door handles sit far from the hinges and a long spanner loosens a tight nut. A torque turns either clockwise or anticlockwise, and two equal torques in opposite directions cancel out.
Depth 1 · Foundation
You know that torque is a force's turning effect, can work it out as force times distance from the axis in newton metres, say whether it turns clockwise or anticlockwise, and explain why a longer handle makes turning easier.
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Foundation
You know that torque is a force's turning effect, can work it out as force times distance from the axis in newton metres, say whether it turns clockwise or anticlockwise, and explain why a longer handle makes turning easier.
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