1. What is Moment of Force?

Definition: Moment of force (or torque) is a measure of the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis.

Purpose: It's essential in physics and engineering for analyzing rotational systems, from simple levers to complex machinery.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \tau \) — Torque (Newton-meters)
• \( F \) — Applied force (Newtons)
• \( r \) — Distance from axis (meters)
• \( \theta \) — Angle between force and lever arm (degrees)

Explanation: The torque is maximized when the force is perpendicular to the lever arm (θ = 90°).

3. Importance of Torque Calculation

Details: Understanding torque is crucial for designing mechanical systems, analyzing structural stability, and solving rotational dynamics problems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the force magnitude, distance from pivot point, and angle between force and lever arm. Angle defaults to 90° for maximum torque.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between torque and moment?
A: In physics, they're often used interchangeably, but torque specifically refers to rotational force.

Q2: Why does angle affect torque?
A: Only the perpendicular component of force contributes to rotation, hence the sin(θ) term.

Q3: What happens at 0° or 180° angle?
A: Torque becomes zero as the force is directed along the lever arm, causing no rotation.

Q4: Can torque be negative?
A: Yes, negative torque indicates clockwise rotation while positive indicates counterclockwise.

Q5: What are common torque units?
A: Newton-meters (N m) in SI, pound-feet (lb-ft) in imperial, and dyne-centimeters (dyn cm) in CGS.