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Quizzes > Science > Physics

Test Your Skills with Our Physics Torque Quiz

Ready to tackle torque questions physics-style? Dive in and challenge yourself!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of gears levers and weights on coral background with quiz text testing physics torque knowledge

Are you ready to tackle some challenging physics torque questions? This free torque quiz physics challenge is designed to test your understanding torque physics, teach you how to calculate net torque in real-world setups, predict rotational equilibrium, and sharpen your problem-solving skills. Unlock new insights with instant feedback and detailed explanations to help you grasp every twist and turn. Whether you're revisiting easy physics questions or you've tried a forces quiz , these basic torque questions will elevate your knowledge. Discover how well you calculate moments and leverage lever arms as you dive into torque questions physics. Ideal for students, educators, and anyone curious about mechanics - take the quiz now and see if you can ace these torque scenarios!

What is torque in physics?
The product of force and time
The product of force and displacement
The product of mass and acceleration
The cross product of the lever arm and force vector
Torque quantifies the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis and is defined as the cross product of the lever arm and the force vector, ? = r × F. Its magnitude is rF?sin? and its direction is perpendicular to the plane of r and F. It is not simply mass times acceleration or force times displacement. HyperPhysics - Torque
What is the SI unit of torque?
Watt (W)
Joule (J)
Newton per meter (N/m)
Newton-meter (N·m)
Torque is measured in newton-meters (N·m) in the SI system. Although the unit N·m is dimensionally the same as the joule, torque is not energy but a rotational moment. Wikipedia - Torque
If the lever arm of a force doubles while the force remains constant, how does the torque change?
It halves
It remains the same
It doubles
It quadruples
Since torque ? = rF, if the lever arm r doubles while the force F stays constant, ? also doubles. This linear relationship holds as long as the force direction remains unchanged. HyperPhysics - Torque
In which direction does the torque vector point relative to the plane defined by the force and lever arm?
In the same direction as the force
Perpendicular to that plane, following the right-hand rule
Opposite to the direction of motion
In the same direction as the lever arm
The torque vector is given by ? = r × F and is perpendicular to the plane formed by r and F, with its direction determined by the right-hand rule. It is not aligned with either r or F individually. Wikipedia - Torque and Cross Product
A 10 kg child sits 2 m from the pivot on a seesaw. How far from the pivot must a 20 kg child sit on the opposite side to balance it?
4 m
2 m
0.5 m
1 m
For balance, the moments about the pivot must be equal: m1?g?r1 = m2?g?r2. Thus 10?×?2 = 20?×?r2, giving r2 = 1?m. Gravity cancels out in the equation. The Physics Classroom - Torque and Equilibrium
A force of 5 N is applied at the end of a 2 m lever arm at an angle of 30° to the lever arm. What is the magnitude of the torque produced?
?8.66 N·m
10 N·m
2.5 N·m
5 N·m
Torque is ? = r?F?sin? = 2?×?5?×?sin30° = 10?×?0.5 = 5?N·m. The sine factor accounts for the angle between force and lever arm. HyperPhysics - Torque and Angle
A uniform rod of length L is pivoted at its center. What is the net torque on the rod due to its own weight?
mgL
Zero
mgL/2
mgL/4
A uniform rod's weight acts at its center of mass, which lies at the pivot for this setup, so the lever arm is zero and ? = rF is zero. No rotational tendency arises from its own weight. Wikipedia - Center of Mass
According to sign conventions in torque, which direction is typically taken as negative?
Downward force
Upward force
Clockwise rotation
Counterclockwise rotation
By common convention, clockwise torques are assigned negative values and counterclockwise torques positive. This sign convention ensures consistency in equilibrium equations. Khan Academy - Torque
You need to apply a torque of 30 N·m to loosen a bolt. If your wrench is 0.3 m long, what force should you apply at the end?
120 N
30 N
90 N
100 N
Torque ? = F?r, so F = ?/r = 30?/?0.3 = 100?N. Applying this force perpendicular to the wrench yields the required moment. HyperPhysics - Torque Calculation
A uniform beam 5 m long is pivoted 1 m from its left end. Two 200 N weights hang from each end. What is the net torque about the pivot?
600 N·m (counterclockwise)
1000 N·m (counterclockwise)
1000 N·m (clockwise)
600 N·m (clockwise)
Left weight: ?? = 200?N?×?1?m = 200?N·m clockwise (negative). Right weight: ?? = 200?N?×?4?m = 800?N·m counterclockwise (positive). Net ? = 800 - 200 = 600?N·m CCW. The Physics Classroom - Torque Sum
A 2 kg mass hangs from a string wrapped around a pulley of radius 0.1 m and moment of inertia 0.5 kg·m². Assuming the pulley and mass accelerate without slipping, what is the linear acceleration of the mass?
?9.8 m/s²
?2.45 m/s²
?0.38 m/s²
?1.23 m/s²
Using ? = I? and Tension T = m(g - a), one finds a = g / [1 + I/(m?r²)] = 9.8 / [1 + 0.5/(2?×?0.01)] ? 0.38?m/s². The pulley's inertia reduces acceleration. Wikipedia - Atwood's Machine with Inertia
A force of 10 N is applied to a lever arm of 2 m at an angle of 60° to the arm. What is the torque?
5 N·m
10 N·m
?17.32 N·m
20 N·m
Torque ? = r?F?sin? = 2?×?10?×?sin60° = 20?×?0.866 ? 17.32?N·m. The sine of 60° accounts for the effective perpendicular component. HyperPhysics - Torque and Angle
A pure couple consists of two equal and opposite forces whose net force is zero but net torque is non-zero.
True
False
A pure couple is a pair of forces equal in magnitude, opposite in direction, and separated by a distance. Their resultant force is zero, but they produce a finite moment (torque) that can cause rotation. Wikipedia - Couple (Mechanics)
Why does a gyroscope precess when torque is applied to it instead of tipping over?
Due to conservation of angular momentum causing a change in direction of the angular momentum vector.
Because of gravitational torque acting downward.
Because of friction in the bearings redirecting motion.
Because of electromagnetic forces in the spinning wheel.
When torque is applied to a spinning wheel, the change in angular momentum occurs perpendicular to both the spin axis and the applied torque, causing precession. This behavior follows from L = I? and ? = dL/dt, conserving angular momentum. Wikipedia - Gyroscope Precession
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Study Outcomes

  1. Calculate Torque Values -

    Use the torque formula τ = F × r × sinθ to determine the rotational force generated by different lever arms and applied forces in physics torque questions.

  2. Analyze Lever Arm Effects -

    Interpret how changes in lever arm length and angle affect torque magnitude and direction in real-world scenarios.

  3. Apply Equilibrium Conditions -

    Solve torque quiz physics problems by setting net torque to zero and finding unknown forces or distances in balanced systems.

  4. Evaluate Rotational Systems -

    Compare multiple torque scenarios to identify which configuration produces the greatest rotational effect or achieves balance.

  5. Interpret Torque Diagrams -

    Read free-body and lever diagrams to extract force values, angles, and pivot points for accurate torque calculations.

  6. Master Problem-Solving Strategies -

    Employ systematic steps and calculator techniques to efficiently tackle both basic torque questions and advanced torque equilibrium puzzles.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Torque definition (τ = r × F) -

    Torque τ is defined as the vector cross-product between the position vector r and force F, with magnitude τ = r F sinθ where θ is the angle between them. Use the right-hand rule - point your fingers in direction of r, curl toward F, and your thumb shows the torque direction. Mastering this formula is essential for acing physics torque questions in rotational mechanics quizzes.

  2. Lever arm and perpendicular distance -

    The lever arm r⊥ is the perpendicular distance from the pivot to the force line of action, giving τ = r⊥ F. A quick mnemonic is "pUSH Perp twists perfect," emphasizing the perpendicular component. This lever arm concept often appears in torque questions physics problems involving wrenches and seesaws.

  3. Static equilibrium and net torque -

    For an object in static equilibrium, ∑τ = 0 and ∑F = 0, meaning all clockwise and counterclockwise torques balance. Apply this to see-saws or balanced beams, ensuring torque sums cancel for rotational stability. Many torque quiz physics items test this equilibrium condition in real-world settings.

  4. Rotational dynamics (τ = I α) -

    Newton's second law for rotation states τnet = I α, where I is the moment of inertia and α the angular acceleration. Different shapes have known I formulas - like I = ½ m R² for a solid disk - so select the right one. This relation is central to understanding torque physics in dynamic systems.

  5. Real-world applications and units -

    Torque is central in engines (measured in newton-metres) and biomechanics (joint torques), so practice converting units from N·m to real scenarios. Remember the SI unit for torque is the newton-metre (N·m), distinct from energy's joule despite sharing dimensions. Real-world basic torque questions often ask for unit checks and application examples.

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