Final answer:
To tighten a car bolt to a torque of 62.0 N.m with a 20 cm wrench, the mechanic must exert a perpendicular force of 310 N.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves calculating the torque required to tighten a bolt. Torque is the product of the force applied perpendicularly to the lever arm and the distance from the pivot point to the point where the force is applied. Specifically, the question indicates a scenario where a cylinder head bolt on a car needs to be tightened to a torque of 62.0 N.m using a wrench with a length of 20 cm. To calculate the required perpendicular force, we use the formula torque (τ) = force (F) × distance (r), where F is the force in newtons, r is the distance from the pivot in meters, and τ is the torque in newton-meters.
To solve for the force, we rearrange the formula to F = τ / r. Plugging in the given values:
F = 62.0 N.m / 0.2 m = 310 N
Therefore, the mechanic must exert a force of 310 N perpendicular to the end of a 20 cm wrench to achieve the required torque of 62.0 N.m.