Difference between torque and work

In summary, torque and work are both physical quantities that describe forces acting on objects, but they are not the same thing. Torque is a measure of rotational force, while work is a measure of energy transfer. They are related in that they both involve forces, but they cannot be measured in the same units. Torque is more useful for rotational motion and can cause an object to rotate, while work can cause an object to move in a straight line. They can work together to produce a combination of rotational and translational motion.
  • #1
swadish
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What is difference between Torque and Work Done if Newton-Meter is Joule?



Torque=Force*Perpendicular distance Work =Force*displacement
 
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  • #2
The units for torque and work happen to have the same dimensions but torque and work are very different concepts. Work is a scalar and torque is a vector.

The angular equivalent of work = force*displacement is:
work = torque*angular displacement

where angular displacement is measured in radians, which is dimensionless, so the unit for torque must necessarily have the same dimension as the unit for work.
 

1. What is the difference between torque and work?

Torque and work are both physical quantities used to describe how forces act on objects. However, they are not the same thing. Torque is a measure of the rotational force applied to an object, while work is a measure of the amount of energy transferred to or from an object as a result of a force acting on it.

2. How are torque and work related?

Torque and work are related in that they both involve forces acting on objects, but they are not directly interchangeable. Torque is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction, while work is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude.

3. Can torque and work be measured in the same units?

No, torque and work are measured in different units. Torque is typically measured in units of Newton-meters (N·m), while work is measured in units of Joules (J).

4. When is torque more useful than work?

Torque is more useful than work when dealing with rotational motion, such as in the case of a rotating object or a lever. Torque takes into account the distance from the axis of rotation, whereas work does not.

5. How do torque and work affect the motion of an object?

Torque and work can both affect the motion of an object, but in different ways. Torque can cause an object to rotate, while work can cause an object to move in a straight line. When both torque and work are present, they can work together to produce a combination of rotational and translational motion.

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