21.2: Introduction

Physci 101 Lab: Physical Science Laboratory Investigations · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    Torque is force acting at a distance, tending to cause rotation around a point. The point about which the object rotates, the pivot point, is called the fulcrum. When force is applied perpendicular to a lever arm, the amount of torque depends on the perpendicular force (F) applied and the length of the lever arm (d) through which the force acts.

    clipboard_ec05d258c6565f5c7bcd66d010ded188a.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Torque:

    \[\tau = Fd \nonumber \]

    Weight Force:

    \[W = mg \nonumber \]

    The amount of torque on one side of a fulcrum is equal and opposite to the amount of torque on the other side of the fulcrum. This can allow a see-saw to be balanced if the two people sit at the correct distances from the pivot point.

    clipboard_e60b6393c727c63b67f3425f3ca00d2c5.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    \[\tau_1 = -\tau_2 \nonumber \]

    Although the torque on each side of the pivot point is equal, the amount of force on each side of the pivot can be very different.

    clipboard_ec4273a11bfcb8e69a86df30092b02a03.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    This page titled 21.2: Introduction was last modified on Sun, 09 Aug 2026 22:42:31 GMT and is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Teresa Ciardi via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.