What is Torque and How Does it Relate to Uniform Circular Motion?

[anotherperson]

If an object is undergoing uniform circular motion then the torque of the object is zero. this i'snt a homework question but I'm just trying to understand this concept and why this is. can anyone give me a good definition of torque?

 

[rock.freak667]

Torque is like the tendency of a body to rotate about some point or axis. In vector form it is defined as τ= r x F where x is the cross product (the same as τ=|r||F|sinθ n where n is a unit vector) . In scalar form it would be torque = force * perpendicular distance from pivot point.

In uniform circular motion, the particle is rotating about the center of the circle. In what direction is the force acting and in what direction is the distance r(distance from center of rotation or particle)? (towards center, away from center, tangential, etc.)

 

[anotherperson]

thanks for your help!