AP Physics Torque

Forces: Weve learned that forces change the velocity of an object. But what does it take to
change the angular velocity of a thing? Well, forces are involved, but the force has to be applied in
a special way. We call this special applied force a torque.

There are many ways to apply a force to a system that can rotate. In the drawing below we have a
turntable that can spin. If we just push sideways on the thing, as in the drawing to the left, we will
not make it spin. We basically would be trying to tip it over. But if we apply a force tangent to the
disc as in the drawing to the right, it will spin. This force is perpendicular to a radius of the circular
path. A force that is applied perpendicular to the circular path at some distance from the spin axis is
called a torque.

Torques change angular velocity. The symbol for torque is the Greek letter . Torque is given by
this equation:

rF sin
r is the distance to the center of spin from where the force is applied. This
variable is often called the lever arm.

F sin be the force component that is perpendicular to the lever arm.

F s in
F

r
If the angle is 90, then the force is perpendicular to the lever arm, the sine is one, and the
equation for torque is simply:

Fr
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Note for some unknown reason, the force is written first and then the lever arm in this equation.

You can see that the unit for torque is going to be a newton meter (nm). We leave it like that. This
looks very similar to the unit for work, the joule, but it is quite different. So energy and work
are in joules and torque is left in newton meters.

Torque is a vector quantity.

125 N is applied to a nut by a wrench. The length of the wrench is 0.300 m. What is the torque?

Fr 125 N 0.300 m 37.5 Nm

A torque of 857 Nm is applied to flywheel that has a radius of 45.5 cm. What is the applied
force?

1
Fr F 857 Nm 1880 N
r 0.455 m

You push on the door as shown in the drawing. What is the torque?

rF sin
330 N 1.5 m sin 55.0o 330 N
410 Nm 1 .5 m 5 5 .0

Multiple Torques: What happens if two or more torques act on an object at the same time?

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Two forces are applied to the object in the drawing to
the right. The object is free to rotate about the spin F1
axis. Both cause a torque.

F1 causes a CCW (counter clockwise) rotation around

s p in a x is r1
the axis.

F2 causes a CW (clockwise) rotation around the axis. r2

If a torque causes a clockwise rotation, it is positive.

If a torque causes a counter clockwise rotation, it is F2

negative.

The sum of the two torques would be: =1 2 F2r2 F1r1

Equilibrium and Torque: If an object is in angular equilibrium (sometimes called

rotational equilibrium), then it is either at rest or else it is rotating with a constant angular velocity:

If object is in rotational equilibrium, the net torque about any

axis is zero.

This means that the sum of the torques acting on the object must be zero.

=0
Static equilibrium exists when an object has no motion, either linear or angular. There are two
conditions which must exist in order to have your good old static equilibrium:

The net force must be zero and the net torque must be zero.

F=0

=0

This gives us some very powerful tools to solve static problems. We can analyze a system and look
at the forces acting on it, and we can also look at the torques that act on it. Well be able to do some
really cool stuff.

199
 Two metal orbs are attached to a very lightweight rigid wire. They are suspended from a rigid
point on the overhead as shown. The system does not move. Calculate the distance from the
suspension line to the center of gravity on the
right sphere.

Since the system is at rest, the sum of the torques and

the sum of the forces must be zero.

Lets look at a FBD and a drawing showing the two 1 .0 k g 4 .0 k g

torques:
F

4 5 .0 c m ?

m 1g r1 r2
m 2g
Without using the torque equilibrium, we could not solve
the problem. The sum of forces would simply tell us that
the upward force would be equal to weight of the two
balls. m 1 g r1
m 2 g r2
Using torque, however, allows us to solve the problem.

All we have to do is add up d torques:

m1 gr1
1 2 0 m1gr1 m2 gr2 0 m2 gr2 m1gr1 r2
m2 g

1.0 kg 0.45 m
r2 0.11 m or 11 cm
4.0 kg

Torque problems, as you have just seen, are fairly simple.

On average, we each have about 1500 dreams per year. The only
ones we remember are the ones interrupted by awakening and
then reviewed before they vanish: since dreams do not form
long-term memories (to our knowledge), any dream not re-
processed by the conscious mind is gone forever!!

Now well do a classic teeter-totter beam problem.

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 A teeter-totter is in equilibrium as shown. The block on the left has a weight of 625 N. The beam
itself has a weight of 32.5 N. What is the mass of the second block?
625 N ?
This is a pretty simple problem, we can solve it
using the torques.

The sum of the torques must be zero:

=0
1 .1 0 m 3 .3 0 m
There are three torqes, 1 (from the 625 N rock) and
2 from the other rock. The weight of the beam
(Fbeam), even though it has a significant amount of
weight, does not cause a torque because the weight
acts at the CG of the beam which is also the center
of rotation. Thus the lever arm is zero. F2
F1 Fbeam
1 2 0 F1r1 F2r2 0

2 is positive (CW) and 1 is negative (CCW)

F1r1 685 N 1.10 m

F1r1 F2r2 F2 228.3 N
r2 3.30 m

To find the mass we use the second law:

F kg m 1
F ma m 228.3 23.3 kg
a s 2 9.8 m
s2

Another similar problem.

A 50.0 N seesaw supports two people who weigh 455 N and 525 N. The fulcrum is under the
CG of the board. The 525 N person is 1.50 m from the center. (a) Find the upward force n
exerted by fulcrum on the board. (b) Where does the smaller person sit so the seesaw is
balanced?
1 .5 0 m x

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First, lets draw a FBD
n
r1 r2
We know that the system is in static
equilibrium, so we can analyze the forces. In
the y direction, the sum of the forces must be
zero.

Fy 0
FT F2
(a) F1 and F2 are the weight of the two men, F1
FT is the weight of the teeter-totter, and n is
the normal force.

We can write this out:

n F1 F2 FT 0

Now we can solve for the normal force, this is the upward force exerted on the board by the support
stand.

n F1 F2 FT 0 525 N 455 N 50.0 N 1 020 N

(b) To find the distance the second man must be positioned from the center, we must analyze the
torques.
y 0 1 2 0 F1r1 F2r2 0 F1r1 F2r2

F1r1 525 N 1.50 m

r2 1.73 N
F2 455 N

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203
AP Physics Applying Torque
It is now time to go after some problems that are more complicated. You will find these to be a lot
of phun. Honest.

A uniform beam is supported by a stout piece of line as shown. The beam weighs 175 N. The
cable makes an angle of 75.0 as shown. Find (a) the tension in the cable and (b) the force
exerted on the end of the beam by the wall.

7 5 .0

4 .0 0 m
We can solve this problem by summing forces and adding up
torques. T R
7 5 .0
First lets draw a FBD:

We have three forces acting on the beam.

The weight of the beam which acts at the center of the FB

beam (its CG), FB.

The tension in the cable, T.

And the force exerted by the wall on the beam, R. (The wall is pushing the beam up and
out.)

(a) Let us first sum the torques. The pivot point is the end of beam where it meets the wall.
Therfore R exerts no torque as its lever arm is zero. We only have two torques to deal with and, of
course, they add up to zero. Torque one is exerted by the tension in the cable and torque two is
caused by the weight of the beam. The force for this torque is applied at the CG, which is at the
center of the beam. Only the vertical component of the tension causes its torque so:

cable B 0 r
Tr sin FB 0
2
FB r 175 N
T 90.6 N
2 r sin 2 sin 75.0o

(b) Next we can sum up the forces:

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x direction: T cos RX 0 y direction: T sin FB RY 0
We can solve the x direction equation for RX:

RX T cos 90.6 N cos75.0o 23.4 N

Next we solve for RY:

RY FB T sin 175 N 90.6 N sin 75.0o 87.5 N

Weve found the x and y components for R, so now we can find the magnitude of the vector using
the Pythagorean theorem:

R Ry 2 Rx 2 87.5 N 2 23.4 N 2 90.6 N

A beam is supported as shown. The beam is uniform and weighs 300.0 N

and is 5.00 m long. A 635 N person stands 1.50 m from the building. (a)
What is the tension in the cable and (b) the force exerted on the beam by
the building?

We draw a FBD.

R T
5 5 .0
5 5 .0
(a) Sum of torques: 5 .5 0 m
beam man cable 0
FB
Fm rm FB rB
Fm rm FB rB TrC sin 0 T
Fm sin rC

635 N 1.50 m 300.0 N 2.50 m

T 416 N

sin 55.0o 5.00 m

(b) We can resolve R and T into components and then sum the forces in the x and y direction. All
forces must add up to equal zero.

205
RX T cos 0 Ry T sin FB Fm 0
RX T cos 0 RX T cos 416 N cos55.00 238 N

Ry T sin FB Fm 0 Ry FB Fm T sin

R y 300.0 N 635 N 416 N sin 624 N

R Ry 2 Rx 2 624 N 2 238 N 2 668 N

Fabulous Ladder Problems: Ladder problems are very popular. The basic idea is that
you have a ladder leaning against a wall (which is usually frictionless). The ladder is held in place
by the friction between its base and the deck it rests upon. Were given the situation and then
required to figure out various things the angle the ladder makes with the deck, the friction force,
the coefficient of friction, the force exerted on the top of the ladder by the wall, &tc.

Lets go ahead and do a simple problem.

A uniform 250.0 N ladder that is 10.0 m long rests against a frictionless wall at
an angle of 58.0, the ladder just keeps from slipping. (a) What are the forces
acting on the bottom of the ladder? (b) What is the coefficient of friction of the 1 0 .0 m
bottom of the ladder with the ground?

Draw a FBD.

The forces acting on the ladder are: the weight of the ladder FL, the frictional force f,
The force the deck pushes up on the ladder with F1, and the force exerted by the wall
on the top of the ladder F2. 5 8 .0

F2
Now we look at the forces acting on ladder - they have to add up to zero.

Fy 0 F1 FL 0 F1 FL 250 N
F1
Fx 0 f F2 0 f F2

We have to find either F2 or else f. But we need more info, dont we? You bet we
do. Blessed by good fortune as we are, we instantly recognize that we can make FL
use of the torque equilibrium deal.
First we make a drawing showing all the torques acting on the ladder. (Actually
f
were only looking at the forces that are perpendicular to the lever arm.)
206
The pivot point is the base of the ladder.

Neither the friction or F1 cause a torque as their lever arm is zero. F2
The weight of the ladder causes a CCW torque.

The lever arm from F2 causes a CW torque. 1 2 .0 m

The torques add up to zero.

0 6 .0 0 m

ladder wall 0 FL

The angle is, using geometry clearly going to be:

90o 90o 58o 32o

The torques are: F2 cos d 2 FL cos d1 0 Solve for F2:

F cos d1 250.0 N cos 58.0o 6.00 m

F2 L 78.1 N
cos d 2 cos 32.0o 12.0 m

The frictional force (the other force acting at the base of the ladder is therefore:

f 78.1 N

(b) Find the coefficient of friction:

f 78.1 N
f mn m m 0.312
n 250.0 N

Whew! Can we make it worse? You bet.

The longest recorded flight of a domestic chicken is

13 seconds.

207
 A 15 m, 500.0 N uniform ladder rests against a frictionless wall. It
makes 60.0 angle with the horizontal. Find (a) the horizontal and
vertical forces on the base of the ladder if an 800.0 N fire fighter is
standing 4.0 m from the bottom. If the ladder is on the verge of 15 m
slipping when the fire fighter is 9.0 m from the bottom of the
ladder, (b) what is the coefficient of static friction on the bottom?

FY 0
F1 FL FF 0 4 .0 m

F1 FL FF 6 0 .0
F1 500 N 800 N

F1 1300 N
F2 F2

FX 0 F2 f 0

f F2

Lets look at torque to find F2: F 1 FL

0 Pivot point is at the base of the ladder:
90o 90o 60o 30o
FL
2 L F 0
F2 cos r2 FL cos rL FF rF 0
f
FF
FL cos rL FF rF
FF
F2
cos r2

500.0 N cos60.0o 7.50 m 800.0 N cos 60.0o 4.00 m

F2
cos30.0o 15.0 m

F2 270 N so f 270 N

208
So the force up is F1 1300 N

The horizontal frictional force is: f 270 N

(b) When the fire man is at 9.0 m (well figure this from the bottom of the ladder), then

We can use the same equation as we used to find F2 since the only thing that has changed is the
distance of the firefighter from the bottom of the ladder.

F2
FL cos rL FF rF F2
cos r2

500.0 N cos 60.0o 7.50 m 800.0 N cos 60.0o 9.00 m

F2
cos 30.0o 15.0 m
f 421 N F1
We can now find the coefficient of static friction for the bottom of the ladder
and the deck.

f ms n ms
f

421 N
0.32
FF FL
n 1300 N
f
All there is to it.

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209
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210
AP Physics Torque Wrapup
We got one really fine equation. Here it is:

rF sin
This is, of course, the good old torque equation. Recall that if the applied force is perpendicular to
the lever arm (r), then the torque equation becomes: rF

Heres the stuff that master you must (as Yoda would say).

You should understand the concept of torque so you can:

a. Calculate the magnitude and sense of the torque associated with a given force.

Use the equation, duh.

b. Calculate the torque on a rigid body due to gravity.

Use the equation. The force acting on the thing would be its weight, right?

You should be able to analyze problems in statics (meaning that nothing is moving) so you can:

a. State the conditions for translational and rotational equilibrium of a rigid body.

Translational equilibrium occurs when the object is either at rest or moving with a
constant velocity - the whole straight-line motion thing we studied to exhaustion.
Rotational equilibrium takes place when an object is either at rest or rotating at a constant
angular velocity.

b. Apply these conditions in analyzing the equilibrium of a rigid body under the
combined influence of a number of coplanar forces applied at different locations.

Torque is pretty straightforward stuff. The main idea is that the sum of the torques (i.e., the net
torque) acting on any object that is either at rest or rotating at a constant angular velocity must
be zero.

There are three types of problems that one can expect to have to deal with. You got your
basic teeter totter problem, the beam sticking out of the wall problem, and your ladder
problems.

AP Physics Test Problems:

Ah, so sad, the Physics Kahuna was unable to find any free response torque problems.
211
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