Question

How can you maximize the torque applied to a given lever arm without applying more force?

Answer 1

Apply the force in the same direction, but at a distance further away from the pivot.

Step-by-step explanation:

Consider a force of magnitude
`F` applied on to this lever.

Let
`r` denote the distance between the pivot and the point where this force is applied. Let
`\theta` denote the angle between the force and the lever.

The torque
`\tau` applied on this lever would be:

`\tau = r\, F\, \sin(\theta)`.

Assume that the magnitude and direction of the force stay the same, such that
`F` and
`\theta` would be constant. Note that torque
`\tau = r\, F\, \sin(\theta)` would be proportional to the distance
`r`. This distance can be increased by moving the force further away from the pivot.

Therefore, when the magnitude and direction of the external force on the lever are the same, applying the force at a point further away from the pivot would increase the torque.