Final answer:
Torque is the rotational equivalent of a force. It is a measure of the effectiveness of a force in changing or accelerating a rotation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Torque is the rotational equivalent of a force. It is a measure of the effectiveness of a force in changing or accelerating a rotation (changing the angular velocity over a period of time). It is defined as the product of the force applied perpendicular to a lever arm and the distance between the axis of rotation and the point of force application.
For example, in the case of a wrench, torque is the force applied on a nut perpendicular to the wrench handle and the distance between the nut and the point where the force is applied.