EXSC 440- Muscle Torque

What is muscle torque?

A force that causes a rotational movement.

Torque = force x distance (one of these components needs to be perpendicular)

Torque and Force are NOT the same thing!!

Differences between torque and force

• Force is just a component of torque.

• Torque is rotational

• Force is linear

What are the three factors that influence torque?

• The length of the lever arm

• The magnitude of the force

• The direction of force

Length of Lever Arm

• Lever arm= distance from fulcrum to the effort/force.

• The longer the lever arm, the greater the torque for the same amount of force.

The Magnitude of Force

• The larger the magnitude of force. the larger the torque for a given lever arm.

The Direction of Force

• The larger the rotary component of a force, the larger the torque for a given arm lever.

• Non-rotary component does not affect torque.

What is static torque?

When multiple toques that cause rotation in opposite directions are balanced.

Sum of all torques = 0

Results in no overall rotation