Is torque perpendicular to the axis of rotation?

Torque is inherently a vector quantity. Part of the torque calculation is the determination of direction. 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.

What direction does a torque move in?

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.

How does torque affect the rotational motion of an object?

When a torque is applied to an object it begins to rotate with an acceleration inversely proportional to its moment of inertia. This relation can be thought of as Newton’s Second Law for rotation. The moment of inertia is the rotational mass and the torque is rotational force. Angular motion obeys Newton’s First Law.

How is torque perpendicular?

A torque is also a vector quantity and produces a rotation in the same way that a force produces a translation. In Example 1, the force (weight) is applied perpendicular to the arm. In this case, the perpendicular distance is the length of the bar and the torque is equal to the product of the length and the force.

Why does torque point perpendicular?

Because that force is perpendicular to the direction towards the rotation-centre. Not to the turning direction. The bolt does indeed turn in the same way as the force pulls it. When you define a torque vector direction, you have a problem.

Why is torque perpendicular to plane?

As torque is equal to cross product of displacement vector and linear force and angular momentum is cross product of displacement vector and linear momentum. The resultant/direction of the cross product is decided by right hand thumb rule which is always be perpendicular to the plane in which the force vector exist.

Is torque the opposite direction of rotation?

The rotation of a clock’s hands is the reference for defining rotational direction. Counterclockwise is the positive rotation direction and clockwise is the negative direction. For example, a torque that rotates an object counterclockwise is a positive torque (see figure 6 below).

Why is torque normal to the plane?

Direction of torque The reason is simple. The torque itself is equal to vector product of two vectors, unlike angular velocity which is one of the two operands of the vector product. By the definition of vector product, the torque is perpendicular to the plane formed by the position vector and force.