All Flashcards
What is torque?
The rotational equivalent of force; what causes objects to spin.
Define lever arm.
The perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation to the point where the force is applied.
What is the position vector () in the context of torque?
A vector pointing from the axis of rotation to the point where the force is applied.
Define the cross product in relation to torque.
The mathematical operation used to calculate torque, given by .
What is the right-hand rule used for in the context of torque?
A method to determine the direction of the torque vector, which is perpendicular to both the position vector and the force vector.
What is the effect of increasing the lever arm on the torque?
Increasing the lever arm increases the torque, assuming the force remains constant.
What happens to the torque when the force is parallel to the position vector?
The torque is zero because .
What is the effect of applying a force at a 90-degree angle to the lever arm?
It maximizes the torque, as all the force contributes to rotation.
What happens if the net torque on an object is zero?
The object is in rotational equilibrium (it's either not rotating or rotating at a constant angular velocity).
What is the effect of increasing the applied force on the torque?
Increasing the applied force increases the torque, assuming the lever arm and angle remain constant.
What is the effect of increasing the lever arm on torque, assuming force remains constant?
Increases the torque.
What is the effect of applying a force directly through the axis of rotation?
Produces zero torque.
What is the effect of increasing the angle between the force vector and the position vector on the magnitude of the torque (up to 90 degrees)?
Increases the magnitude of the torque.
Cause: A net torque is applied to an object. Effect?
The object experiences angular acceleration.
Cause: A force is applied perpendicular to a wrench handle. Effect?
The wrench rotates, applying torque to the bolt.