PHYSICS 1L03 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Australopithecus, Gluteal Muscles, Right-Hand Rule
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Torque produces rotational acceleration, just as force produces translational equilibrium. The magnitudes of the forces as well as their lines of action and positions of their application together determine if object is in equilibrium. The magnitude of torque is a measure of the strength of rotation and is the product of the magnitude of force and perpendicular distance from its line of action to the fulcrum. T = r*f*sin(theta: r = distance from axis of rotation, theta = angle of rotation, f = force acting on bar, units: n*m = kg*m^2/s^2. Torque is a vector that acts along the axis of rotation; it doesn"t act along the force line of action or along positive vector, it"s perpendicular to both. If a force causes a counter-clockwise rotation, the torque t is defined to be positive, t>0. Conversely, if a force causes a clockwise rotation, the torque is a negative term, t<0.