The turning force applied to an object being rotated around a fixed axis is called what?

The turning force applied to an object being rotated around a fixed axis is called what?

• A. Power
• B. Torque
• C. Force
• D. Momentum

Answer: (B)

Torque is the turning effect produced by a force acting at some distance from the axis of rotation. The bigger the force and the farther from the axis, the more torque you create, because torque depends on the lever arm and the perpendicular component of the force. This is why using a longer handle on a wrench makes it easier to turn a bolt—the same push generates more torque. Mathematically, torque equals the lever arm length times the perpendicular component of the force, and it drives angular acceleration according to torque = moment of inertia × angular acceleration. The direction is found with the right-hand rule. Power describes how quickly work is done, not the turning effect; force is a push or pull in linear motion; momentum relates to mass in motion, not rotation.

Torque is the turning effect produced by a force acting at some distance from the axis of rotation. The bigger the force and the farther from the axis, the more torque you create, because torque depends on the lever arm and the perpendicular component of the force. This is why using a longer handle on a wrench makes it easier to turn a bolt—the same push generates more torque. Mathematically, torque equals the lever arm length times the perpendicular component of the force, and it drives angular acceleration according to torque = moment of inertia × angular acceleration. The direction is found with the right-hand rule.

Power describes how quickly work is done, not the turning effect; force is a push or pull in linear motion; momentum relates to mass in motion, not rotation.