Question

Torque can be calculated by multiplying the force ( N

) applied at 90∘
to the lever arm at a distance ( m
) from the pivot point (point of rotation), the compound SI unit for the torque is N⋅m
. If the force (at 90∘
to the lever arm) applied is 15 N
and it is applied at 2.0 m
from the pivot point (point of rotation), what is the torque on the lever?

Answer 1

The torque on the lever would be 2.0 * 15 = 30 N·m.

Step-by-step explanation:

Imagine you have an ice cream scoop, and you're using it to scoop ice cream from a tub. The tub is on the floor and the ice cream scoop is in your hand. When you apply force to the scoop handle, it acts on the scoop like a lever. The distance from the pivot point (where your hand holds the handle) to the center of the scoop is called the lever arm.

The torque is like the force that makes the scoop spin. It's the force applied to the scoop, multiplied by the lever arm. The bigger the lever arm, the smaller the torque you need. The smaller the lever arm, the bigger the torque you need.

To calculate the torque, you take the distance from the pivot point to the center of the scoop, and multiply it by the force you apply to the scoop.

So if the distance from the pivot point to the center of the scoop is 2 meters, and you apply 15 Newton's of force, then the torque is 2 * 15 = 30 N·m.