The discussion centers on calculating the length of the lever arm given a torque of 55 N·m and a maximum force of 135 N. The relevant formulas are Torque = Force × Lever Arm and Lever Arm = r × sin(theta). Participants emphasize the need to assume that the force is applied perpendicular to the lever arm to simplify calculations, as the angle theta is not provided. The conclusion is that the lever arm can be determined directly by rearranging the torque formula to solve for r.
PREREQUISITESStudents studying physics, particularly those focusing on mechanics, engineers working with mechanical systems, and anyone interested in understanding the principles of torque and lever arms.
That's not quite right, and neither is the problem statement very clear. if T=rFsintheta, then you need to know theta in order to solve for r, where r is the length of the lever arm, unless one assumes that the force is applied perendicular to the arm. Is theta given in the problem?kelly_kelly said:The answers are in the formulas you've posted. If lever arm = r sin theta, and torque = force * r sin theta, then torque = force * lever arm. Since you know torque and force, you can solve for lever arm.
PhanthomJay said:That's not quite right, and neither is the problem statement very clear. if T=rFsintheta, then you need to know theta in order to solve for r, where r is the length of the lever arm, unless one assumes that the force is applied perendicular to the arm. Is theta given in the problem?
I looked up the definition of 'lever arm' on several web sites, and discovered that some call it the length of the position vector between the point of application of the load and the axis of rotation (Wiki) while others call it the perpendicular distance from the line of action of the force to the axis of rotation. I tend not to trust Wiki most of the time (they take a simple topic and make it as complex as is humanly possible), so let's go with the latter. In which case the lever arm is __________(fill in the blank).DeeAussie said:Everything I listed was what was given so I guess you do have to assume perpendicular?