What does a torque refer to in physics?

In physics, torque is defined as a measure of rotational force. It quantifies the tendency of a force to cause an object to rotate around an axis or pivot point. The greater the torque applied to an object, the greater the rotational effect it will have.

Torque is calculated by the product of the force applied and the distance from the pivot point to the line of action of that force (often referred to as the lever arm or moment arm). The formula for torque is:

[ \text{Torque} (\tau) = \text{Force} (F) \times \text{Distance} (r) \times \sin(\theta) ]

where ( \theta ) is the angle between the force vector and the lever arm. Torque has both magnitude and direction, indicating not just how much rotational force is applied, but also the direction of the rotation (clockwise or counterclockwise).

Understanding torque is crucial in mechanical applications, where it helps describe the effects of forces in rotating systems, such as gears, levers, and engines. This also differentiates it from concepts like energy, linear momentum, or pressure, which describe different physical phenomena.