hi! can I calculate the torque by simply multiplying the mass, gravity, and distance since torque has a unit of N-m?
Additional context: I taped a coin at one end of the ruler and placed it in the edge of a table until it is on the verge of falling. I took notes of the measurements that I can get. I got the weight of the object, angle of elevation, location of the pivot point, and the distance of the coin from the pivot point. I'm thinking to solve for the torque by multiplying mass and gravity (Newton) and the distance of the coin from the pivot point (m).
your gravitational force indeed = m g,
mass in kilograms, g in meters/ second^2, force in Newtons
The torque indeed is the force times the distance to the pivot point,
ASSUMING that the force is perpendicular to the vector from the application point to the pivot point.
In your case that distance would be the HORIZONTAL distance from the application point to the pivot point.
For example if your coin were right above the pivot point, the torque would be zero.
m g d cos theta
where theta is the ruler angle above horizontal (your elevation angle) and d is distance of coin from pivot point.
( Do not forget the mass of the ruler at its center)
Hello! To calculate torque, you cannot simply multiply the mass, gravity, and distance. Torque is the product of force and the lever arm distance. In this case, the force would be the weight of the object and the lever arm distance would be the distance of the coin from the pivot point.
To calculate torque accurately, you need to consider the angle of elevation as well. The torque formula is given by:
Torque = Force x Distance x sin(θ)
Where:
- Torque is measured in Newton-meters (N-m)
- Force is the perpendicular force applied at the pivot point (weight of the object in this case)
- Distance is the distance between the pivot point and the point where the force is applied (distance of the coin from the pivot point)
- θ is the angle between the force and the lever arm (angle of elevation in this case)
To calculate torque, you would multiply the weight of the object (mass x gravity) by the distance between the pivot point and the coin. Then you would multiply this result by the sine of the angle of elevation. This will give you the torque exerted by the object.
Keep in mind that the angle should be measured in radians, so if your angle of elevation is given in degrees, you would need to convert it to radians using the formula: θ (radians) = θ (degrees) x π/180.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any more questions.