Torque and counterclockwise versus clockwise

[Madelin Pierce]

Homework Statement

How do I determine whether something will go counterclockwise or clockwise? I know the hands of the clock idea, but how do I know in a torque problem? Also, how do I know what force will bring something into equilibrium?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[haruspex]

Homework Statement

How do I determine whether something will go counterclockwise or clockwise? I know the hands of the clock idea, but how do I know in a torque problem? Also, how do I know what force will bring something into equilibrium?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Whether a motion is clockwise or anticlockwise depends on the position of the viewer.
Suppose you are looking along an axis, and a force is acting perpendicularly to the axis, off to one side of it. Follow the shortest line from the axis to the line of action of the force, then turn in the direction of the force. If you turned right then it is clockwise, if left then anticlockwise.
If that does not answer your question, please post an example that is perplexing you.

 

[Chandra Prayaga]

As haruspex points out, you have to draw a diagram for each individual situation. There is no rule or equation which will tell you whether a torque is clockwise or counter clockwise. You have to draw a diagram with the forces, and then imagine which way a force is likely to turn the object. The point about which you are calculating the torque is imagined to be held fixed.