Final answer:
Properly torquing wheel lug nuts prevents brake rotor warping and involves the physics concept of torque, which is the product of a perpendicular force and the distance from the pivot point.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is important to torque wheel lug nuts or bolts to OEM specs and in the correct sequence to help prevent the brake rotors from warping. When torque is applied to an object, such as using a wrench to tighten bolts on a car, it creates angular acceleration. The force needed to achieve a certain torque is calculated by multiplying the force exerted perpendicular to the lever arm by the distance from the pivot point (the center of the bolt, in this case). For example, if a mechanic needs to tighten a bolt with a torque of 62.0 N.m using a 20 cm wrench, they must exert a force that, when multiplied by 0.20 m (the distance), equals 62.0 N.m. Conversely, when a mechanic uses a longer lever, such as placing a pipe over a wrench, the distance from the pivot point increases, allowing the mechanic to apply the same torque with less force. This is due to the direct relationship between distance from the pivot and the amount of torque produced.