Situations where torque does no work

In summary, torque is a measure of force that causes rotational motion, but does not result in any displacement. It can do work in situations where there is a change in rotational motion, but not in situations where there is no change. Friction can affect the work done by torque, and torque and work are related but different concepts. </p>
  • #1
quantumfoam
133
4
I would like to know all the different situations where torque does no work. So far I only know that torque can do no work when it is balanced. Is there any other ways torque can do zero work?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
You should be able to work that out from the definition of work and the definition of torque...
 
  • #3
Alright then.
 

1. What is torque and how does it relate to work?

Torque is a measure of the force that causes an object to rotate around an axis or pivot point. It is calculated by multiplying the force applied by the distance from the axis. In terms of work, torque can either increase or decrease the rotational motion of an object, but it does not result in any displacement or change in the object's position. Therefore, torque does no work in situations where there is no rotational motion or change in position.

2. Can torque ever do work?

Yes, torque can do work in situations where there is a rotational motion or change in position. For example, when using a wrench to loosen a bolt, the torque applied results in rotational motion and does work to loosen the bolt. However, if the bolt is already loose and there is no change in position, the torque applied does no work.

3. What are some examples of situations where torque does no work?

One example is a pendulum swinging back and forth. The torque caused by the force of gravity does not result in any change in the position of the pendulum, therefore it does no work. Another example is a spinning top, where the torque applied by the force of friction does not cause any change in position.

4. How does friction affect the work done by torque?

Friction can both increase or decrease the work done by torque. In situations where there is no rotational motion or change in position, friction can prevent torque from doing any work. However, in situations where there is rotational motion, friction can either assist or resist the torque, resulting in an increase or decrease in the work done.

5. What is the difference between torque and work?

Torque and work are related but different concepts. Torque is a measure of the force that causes rotational motion, while work is a measure of the force that causes displacement. Torque does no work in situations where there is no change in rotational motion, but it can do work in situations where there is a change in rotational motion. Work, on the other hand, always results in a change in position.

Similar threads

  • Mechanics
Replies
7
Views
1K
  • Mechanics
Replies
3
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
600
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
723
  • Mechanics
Replies
31
Views
673
Replies
52
Views
3K
  • Mechanics
Replies
10
Views
1K
Replies
23
Views
3K
Replies
21
Views
1K
Back
Top