Final answer:
Torque is calculated using the formula τ = rF sin θ, taking into account the distance from the pivot point, the force's magnitude, and the angle of application relative to the pivot point.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of torque is integral when discussing forces and their rotational effects on rigid bodies in physics. To calculate the net torque produced by forces on a body, such as a metal shaft or a rectangular loop in a magnetic field, we follow the equation τ = rF sin θ, where τ represents torque, r is the lever arm or the perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation to the line of action of the force, F is the magnitude of the force, and θ is the angle between the force vector and the lever arm direction.
For instance, to find the torque produced by a force on a wrench, you would use the lever arm distance from the nut (pivot point) to the point of force application, along with the sine of the angle at which the force is applied to the handle. Similarly, the torques in a rectangular loop in a magnetic field depend on the segment lengths affected by the magnetic force and the angle at which the force acts concerning the shaft.