What does torque refer to in mechanical terms?

• A. A measure of linear speed
• B. A measure of rotational force
• C. A unit of electrical resistance
• D. A type of friction

Answer: (B)

Torque is the rotational effect a force has about an axis. It describes how strongly a force tends to rotate an object, increasing with both the size of the force and the distance from the pivot (lever arm). When the force acts farther from the axis or is larger, the turning effect is stronger.

In practical terms, torque combines force and how far that force is applied from the center of rotation. If the force is applied perpendicular to the lever arm, torque equals the distance times the force; the rotation direction follows the right-hand rule. This concept is distinct from linear speed (velocity), electrical resistance, or friction, which describe straight-line motion, electrical properties, and resistance to motion, respectively.