vridkraft

Vridkraft is a term found in Swedish and Norwegian technical writing to denote rotational force or twisting capability. Etymology stems from vrid, meaning to twist, and kraft, meaning power or force; the compound is often translated roughly as “twist power” and is commonly used as a synonym for torque in regional texts.

In physics and engineering, torque is the moment of force that causes rotation, defined as the cross product of force and lever arm. The standard unit is the newton-meter (Nm). In Nordic sources, vridkraft is frequently used interchangeably with torque, though some authors reserve it for describing the twisting capability of a shaft or motor.

Applications of the concept include descriptions of engines, transmissions, robotics, and wind turbines, where vridkraft conveys the available twisting effort or load-bearing capacity of a rotating element. It is typically discussed alongside related concepts such as mechanical power and rotational speed.

Terminology and standards: The term vridkraft is not common in English-language engineering literature; torque remains the preferred term. There is no separate SI unit for vridkraft; it inherits the standard torque unit, the newton-meter.

See also: Torque, Mechanical power, Rotational motion.