Torque and Equilibrium/Rotational Equilibrium

torque

how good a force is at making something rotate

VECTOR

axis of rotation

a point around where and object rotates

fulcrum

the actual point where the object can rotate

lever arm

distance between the axis of rotation and the force applied

clockwise

negative (righty tighty goes down)

counterclockwise

positive (lefty losy goes up)

tau

radius times force time sin theta

theta

angle between lever arm and force applied

forces

torques mimic (net tau=0, alpha=0, omega=constant)

step one

draw free body diagram

step two

draw axis of rotation and distances from fulcrum and forces

step three

net force equation

step four

net torque equation

step five

substitute and solve

same terms

make sure everything is in the