Final answer:
To calculate the net torque about a pivot point, establish a coordinate system, determine the angle between the lever arm and force, calculate each torque, use the right-hand rule for direction, and sum the individual torques.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question revolves around the concept of finding the net torque on a rigid body about a pivot point. To calculate net torque, it is essential to consider forces applied at different points and angles. Here are the steps:
- Establish a coordinate system with the pivot point at the origin.
- Determine the angle between the lever arm and the force directions.
- Calculate the torque of each force using the relation torque = lever arm × force, keeping in mind that the lever arm is the perpendicular distance from the axis to the line of action of the force.
- Apply the right-hand rule to determine the direction of the torque, which will indicate whether it is positive or negative.
- Sum all the individual torques to obtain the net torque.
Remember to assign the correct signs to individual torques based on the chosen coordinate system, and choose the pivot point wisely to simplify calculations.