How Does Distance Affect Torque While Maintaining the Same Force?

[Physics is awesome]

Question that’s been boggling my mind. If you have a 1 ft torque wrench and your tightening your wheels on you Car and apply a force of 70 pounds 1 ft from the nut I’m applying 70 pounds of downward force on the nut but applying a much larger torque to the nut. Now if I apply a 70 lb force 3” from the nut I am still applying 70 pounds of downward force on the nut so question is how can moving farther away apply a much bigger torque but still apply same downward force on the wheel and nut?

 

[berkeman]

Question that’s been boggling my mind. If you have a 1 ft torque wrench and your tightening your wheels on you Car and apply a force of 70 pounds 1 ft from the nut I’m applying 70 pounds of downward force on the nut but applying a much larger torque to the nut. Now if I apply a 70 lb force 3” from the nut I am still applying 70 pounds of downward force on the nut so question is how can moving farther away apply a much bigger torque but still apply same downward force on the wheel and nut?

What is the definition of torque?

 

[A.T.]

If you have a 1 ft torque wrench and your tightening your wheels on you Car and apply a force of 70 pounds 1 ft from the nut I’m applying 70 pounds of downward force on the nut but applying a much larger torque to the nut.

Much larger torque than what? You cannot compare a torque to a force.

how can moving farther away apply a much bigger torque but still apply same downward force on the wheel and nut?

Because that's how force and torque are defined. If they had the same definition, we wouldn't use two different names for them.