What is Torque?

• A. A measure of linear speed
• B. A unit of weight
• C. A force which tends to produce rotation
• D. A type of lubricant

Answer: (C)

Torque is the rotational effect produced by a force about an axis. It explains how strongly a force tends to rotate an object, such as swinging a door when you push the handle. The turning effect increases with both how hard you push and how far from the axis you push—the farther the lever arm, the more torque for the same force. Mathematically, torque is the product of the force and the perpendicular distance to the axis (τ = r × F, with magnitude τ = rF sin(theta)). The direction of rotation follows the right-hand rule. Its units are newton-meters. This isn’t a measure of linear speed, a unit of weight, or a lubricant, which is why those options don’t fit.