In this article, we will discuss how to find direction of torque and other aspects of it.
The right-hand grasp rule is used to determine the path of the torque vector. The torque vector points in the plane of the thumb if a hand is wrapped around the plane of rotation with the fingers oriented in the force vector.
Torque is a measurement of the force required to spin an item around an axis. In linear kinematics, the force causes an object to accelerate; in angular kinematics, torque enables an entity to accelerate.Torque is a parameter that is measured as a vector. The torque vector’s orientation is determined by the force acting on the axis.
Torque is intuitively understood by everyone who has ever opened a door. When opening a door, the individual pushes on the side of the door that is furthest from the hinges. It takes a lot more power to push on the side closest to the hinges. Despite the labour being equal in both circumstances (the bigger force is delivered over a shorter radius), individuals prefer to use less force, which is why the door handle is usually located in the middle.
The term “static torque” refers to a torque that does not create an angular acceleration. Since the door does not rotate on its hinges regardless of the force provided, someone pushing on it applies a static torque to it. Since they’re not accelerating, somebody pedalling a bicycle at a steady pace is likewise applying a static torque.
A kinetic torque is carried by the gear shaft of a sports vehicle speeding from the starting position since it must produce an angular acceleration of the wheels provided that the car is moving along the course.The vocabulary used to describe torque can be a bit perplexing. Scientists frequently use the terms moment and moment of force indiscriminately. The moment arm refers to the radius where the force operates.
For a rotating system, the idea of rotational equilibrium is identical to Newton’s first law. Without being acted on by an outside torque, an item that is not spinning stays that way. Similarly, unless acted on by an external torque, a body rotating at steady angular velocity will continue to rotate.
When dealing with difficulties with several torques operating on a rotating item, the idea of rotational equilibrium comes in handy. In this scenario, it’s the net torque that matters. If a rotatable object’s net torque is nil, it will be in rotational equilibrium and unable to gain angular acceleration.
How to find direction of torque in electric field?
To determine the torque generated by a dipole in an outside field, imagine a dipole positioned in a homogeneous outside field ‘E’.
The positive charge will be exposed to an electric pressure in the upper axis of ‘qE’ value, whereas the negative charge will be exposed to an electric force in the downwards way of ‘qE’ value.
The dipole may be seen to be in transitional equilibrium since the net pressure is zero. What, on the other hand, is the rotational equilibrium? The dipole may stay stationary in this case, but it spins with a given angular velocity. This has been shown empirically, indicating that both electrostatic pressures (qE) act as clockwise torque.
As a response, the dipole revolves when placed in a homogeneous outside electric field. Usually, remember that torque is always applied in pairs. Its magnitude is also the consequence of the combination of force and arm. The space separating the place where pressure is given and the place at which dipole rotates may be referred of as the arm.
How to find direction of torque in magnetic field?
In the same manner that the torque generated on an electric dipole was computed, the torque vector can also be determined from the magnetic dipole moment:

The loop is turned by the magnetic field, and the top section is inserted onto the page. Folding our fingers in that way causes torque to be applied to the left. The cross-product of magnetic moment and field determines the torque distribution.
Science is an odd topic that rarely fails to astonish you as new topics are introduced. We’re all aware that charge exists all around us and that it creates a wide range of natural phenomena. Moreover, positive and negative charges come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each with its own set of properties when exposed to a stimulating field.
Have you heard the word “electric dipole” before? This odd arrangement of positive and negative electric charges generates a fascinating physics concept. A dissociation of positive and negative charges is referred to as an electric dipole.
Imagine a pair of contrary signs but equal-magnitude electric ions dispersed by a significantly shorter distance. Our current emphasis is on the behaviour of an Electric Dipole in the appearance of an outside field. While going on to the features of the torque operating on an electric dipole in a homogeneous electric field, let’s recap the features of the torque operating on an electric dipole in a homogeneous electric field.
While a dipole is put in a non-uniform electric field, why does it feel both force and torque
Whenever a dipole is placed in a uniform electric field, each charge gets a force because the dipole vector orientation is not parallel to the field orientation. These forces have the same strength, yet they are flowing in opposite directions. These equal and opposing parallel pressures create a pair.
The dipole is torqued by this pair, which causes it to spin and alignment in the field plane. In a uniform field, though, the force usually is nil.Whenever a dipole is placed in a non-uniform field, as previously indicated, there will be a torque.
After the dipole is oriented to the field axis, the forces operating on the charges are not identical. As a consequence, the dipole will experience a net force in the field-increasing direction. As a consequence, the electric dipole is subjected to non-uniform torque and force.
Problems
Problem 1
Two small electrical dipoles, AB and CD, with dipole moments of “p” each, are kept at a 120° angle. As a response, what is the dipole moment? If E is oriented in the +x direction, what is the quantity and direction of torque acting on this structure?
Ans. AB and CD have the same functional dipole moment, that is
Pe=√p2+p2+2ppcos1200
⇒Pe=√2p2+2p2(-1/2)
⇒P
Because the resulting vector forms a 30° angle with the x-axis, the torque felt by the functional dipole is increased,
τ=pEsinθ
τ=1/2pE
It operates on the z-axis.
As a result, the functional dipole moment is p, and the program’s torque is 1/2pE in the +z axis.
Frequently asked questions | FAQs
Ques. What does the term “torque orientation” imply?
Ans. The torque is in the orientation of the angular velocity that it would create if no other factors were present. The shift in angular velocity is usually in the torque’s orientation.
Ques. Is it possible to have a positive torque in the anti-clockwise direction?
Ans. Each force acting clockwise has a positive torque, while each force acting anticlockwise has a negative torque. When the distance, force, or orthogonal components are all larger, the torque is also higher.
Ques. Torque is either a force or a moment.
Ans. Torque, also known as force moment, is the propensity of a force to spin the object to which it is exerted in physics.
Ques. What is the definition of a clockwise torque?
Ans. A negative torque is one that turns an item clockwise.
Ques. Where does the torque vector’s direction come from?
Ans. The orientation of the torque vector is determined by how the applied force causes the system to rotate. The wrench is turning known as anti-clockwise in this case.
Also, please click to know about How To Calculate Torque From Rpm.
FAQs
How will you determine the direction of torque? ›
The direction of the torque vector is found by convention using the right hand grip rule. If a hand is curled around the axis of rotation with the fingers pointing in the direction of the force, then the torque vector points in the direction of the thumb as shown in Figure 2.
What is the direction of torque in rotational motion? ›The direction is perpendicular to both the radius from the axis and to the force. It is conventional to choose it in the right hand rule direction along the axis of rotation. The torque is in the direction of the angular velocity which would be produced by it in the absence of other influences.
What are the different methods to calculate torque explain one of them in detail? ›Key idea for torque: We can find torque in three equivalent ways. It can be found using the whole force and the most obvious distance; after splitting the force into components; or by using the lever-arm method in which the distance from the axis is measured along the line perpendicular to the force.
How do you find the direction of torque in a magnetic right hand rule? ›To use the right hand rule in torque problems, take your right hand and point it in the direction of the position vector (r or d), then turn your fingers in the direction of the force and your thumb will point toward the direction of the torque.
What is the direction of torque examples? ›The direction of the torque vector is dependent on how the applied force would cause rotation of the system. For this example, the wrench is spinning counter-clockwise. However, if we were to look at this from the other side, the wrench would be spinning clockwise.
How do you solve torque problems? ›Problem-Solving Strategy
Determine the angle between the lever arm r → r → and the force vector. Take the cross product of r → and F → r → and F → to determine if the torque is positive or negative about the pivot point or axis. Evaluate the magnitude of the torque using r ⊥ F r ⊥ F .
The direction of the force is important because the resulting motion of the object is in the same direction as the force. The product of the force and the perpendicular distance to the center of gravity for an unconfined object, or to the pivot for a confined object, is^M called the torque or the moment.
What is the easiest way to calculate torque? ›T(torque) = F(force) * s(distance from pivot) * sin(theta), where theta is the angle between the force and the position vector.
What is the magnitude and direction of torque? ›The magnitude of the torque with respect to a given axis of rotation can be approached as the force times the lever arm with respect to that axis. The lever arm is the perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation to the line of action of the force. The direction of the torque is given by the right hand rule.
How is torque explained? ›In physics, the definition of torque is the force that acts on a pivot point with the aid of a lever arm. The formula for torque, the law of the lever is: torque = force (N) x lever arm (m). The units for torque are newton-meters (Nm) or pound-feet (lb-ft).
How do you determine the direction of a magnetic field? ›
The direction of the magnetic field lines at a place can be determined by using a compass needle. The north end of the needle of the compass indicates the direction of the magnetic field at the point where is placed.
How do you find the direction of the current right hand rule? ›An electric current passes through a solenoid, resulting in a magnetic field. When you wrap your right hand around the solenoid with your fingers in the direction of the conventional current, your thumb points in the direction of the magnetic north pole.
How do you find the direction of induced current? ›The central finger points in the direction of induced current in the conductor if the thumb and forefinger point in the direction of the conductor's velocity and magnetic field, respectively.
Is the direction of torque is same to the direction of force? ›The magnitude of torque is a measure of the perpendicular distance to the line of action, and the direction of torque is perpendicular to both the force direction and the location of the line of action.
What direction is clockwise rotation? ›Clockwise motion (abbreviated CW) proceeds in the same direction as a clock's hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back up to the top. The opposite sense of rotation or revolution is (in Commonwealth English) anticlockwise (ACW) or (in North American English) counterclockwise (CCW).
Does torque go in the same direction as a current? ›As shown in Figure 19.22, the current reverses direction in the loop every half- rotation. From our perspective, however, the current always goes clockwise around the loop, which is why the torque is always in the same direction.
What is torque formula and example? ›Torque is defined as Γ=r×F=rFsin(θ). In other words, torque is the cross product between the distance vector (the distance from the pivot point to the point where force is applied) and the force vector, 'a' being the angle between r and F.
How do you find the direction of a cross product? ›Direction of cross product
The direction of the cross product of two non zero parallel vectors a and b is given by the right hand thumb rule. In your right hand, point your index finger along the vector a and point your middle finger along vector b, then the thumb gives the direction of the cross product.
If the magnetic field is unchanging, then the rotation of the magnetic moment will cause the torque to reverse direction, which means the torque cause the loop to accelerate the opposite direction.
Is clockwise torque positive or negative? ›In physics, the counterclockwise direction is defined as positive and clockwise is negative for rotational variables.
How do you find the magnitude and direction of a torque due to a force? ›
The magnitude of a torque about a fixed axis is calculated by finding the lever arm to the point where the force is applied and using the relation |→τ|=r⊥F | τ → | = r ⊥ F , where r⊥ is the perpendicular distance from the axis to the line upon which the force vector lies.
What is the direction of torque and acceleration? ›If the torque is coming out of the plane, the tangential acceleration is in the anti-clockwise direction. If the torque is going into the plane, the tangential acceleration is in the clockwise direction. If you know the tangential acceleration, you can now determine how the motion of the rotating object changes.
What are two methods for torque measurement? ›There are two different approaches to determining torque: the direct and the indirect method.
How do you know if torque is positive or negative? ›- The direction of rotation can be clockwise (cw) or counterclockwise (ccw). ...
- For example, a torque that rotates an object counterclockwise is a positive torque (see figure 6 below). ...
- A torque that rotates an object clockwise is a negative torque (see figure 7 below).
The direction of the torque is perpendicular to both the force and the radius vector. In order to find it, you can use a second variety of the right-hand rule. orient your hand so that you can curl your fingers in the direction of the force -- without breaking your fingers!