Pöörlemomendiks

Pöörlemomendiks, often translated as torque or moment of force, is a fundamental concept in physics describing the rotational equivalent of linear force. It quantifies how effectively a force can cause an object to rotate around an axis or pivot point. The magnitude of the torque depends on three factors: the magnitude of the applied force, the distance from the pivot point to where the force is applied (lever arm), and the angle between the force vector and the lever arm vector.

Mathematically, torque (often denoted by the Greek letter tau, τ) is calculated as the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the pivot to the line of action of the force. If the force and lever arm are not perpendicular, the torque is given by the cross product of the position vector (from the pivot to the point of force application) and the force vector. The direction of the torque vector indicates the axis of rotation, following the right-hand rule.

Torque is measured in units of force multiplied by distance, such as Newton-meters (N⋅m) in the International System of Units (SI). In essence, torque is what causes angular acceleration, analogous to how linear force causes linear acceleration. Examples include using a wrench to tighten a bolt, pedaling a bicycle, or the torque produced by an electric motor. Understanding torque is crucial in fields like mechanical engineering, astrophysics, and biomechanics.