Torque is a measure of ______.

Torque is a measure of ______.

• A. Linear force
• B. Temperature
• C. Rotational force
• D. Power

Answer: (C)

Torque describes how a force tends to cause rotation around an axis. It depends on the size of the lever arm and how perpendicular the force is to that lever arm: the farther the force is applied from the pivot and the more it acts at a right angle, the greater the rotational effect. This is captured by τ = r × F, or magnitude τ = r F sinθ, with the direction set by the right-hand rule. That’s why torque is described as a rotational force—it’s the rotational effect a force has, not just a straight-line push. By contrast, linear force would cause translation, temperature relates to thermal energy, and power is about how fast work is done (P = τω), not the rotational influence itself. A practical example is using a wrench: a longer handle increases the lever arm, increasing torque and making it easier to turn the bolt; pulling along the handle (small θ) reduces torque to near zero.

Torque describes how a force tends to cause rotation around an axis. It depends on the size of the lever arm and how perpendicular the force is to that lever arm: the farther the force is applied from the pivot and the more it acts at a right angle, the greater the rotational effect. This is captured by τ = r × F, or magnitude τ = r F sinθ, with the direction set by the right-hand rule.

That’s why torque is described as a rotational force—it’s the rotational effect a force has, not just a straight-line push. By contrast, linear force would cause translation, temperature relates to thermal energy, and power is about how fast work is done (P = τω), not the rotational influence itself. A practical example is using a wrench: a longer handle increases the lever arm, increasing torque and making it easier to turn the bolt; pulling along the handle (small θ) reduces torque to near zero.