Torque

Torque is a twist and is applied to an object to make the object turn about its axis of rotation. It deals with rotational motion. It is similar to a force being applied to an object that changes its linear rate of motion. When torque is applied it changes an object’s rate of rotational motion. The magnitude of the torque is measured by multiplying the perpendicular component of the force applied by the distance between the object’s axis of rotation and the point where the force is applied.

Torque = Force x Distance

Ex: A weight hanging from the far end of a beam creates a greater amount of torque (and therefore causes the beam to bend more) than if the same weight were hung from the middle of the beam.

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