Re: [Phys-l] 'Torque' question

["Bob Sciamanda" <treborsci@verizon.net>]

Hi, Hasan
I think you would like to see the working mechanism in terms of the forces 
involved.

This would involve an analysis of the forces internal to a rigid body.  I 
have long been fascinated by the "mystery" of the rigid body - epitomized by 
the rigid lever as it "multiplies" an input force to produce a larger output 
force across a fulcrum.

To satisfy my curiosity I once used Interactive Physics to model a rigid 
lever as a lattice of masses held together by very stiff springs.   I then 
added a fixed fulcrum, a perpendicular input force F at one end, and an 
output load of 2F across the fulcrum at twice the distance from the fulcrum.

The thing balanced after the oscillations died out (dampers were included in 
the springs), and one could read the tensions/compressions in all of the 
springs and come away with a visual picture of just how the "magic" of the 
rigid body does indeed develop the forces required to enforce the 
requirements of our physics!

I am still in awe of the "magic of the rigid body", but at least I now have 
some visual appreciation of the mechanism involved.
-Bob

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Fakhruddin, Hasan" <hfakhrud@bsu.edu>
Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 9:33 PM
To: "'Forum for Physics Educators'" <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu>
Subject: [Phys-l] 'Torque' question

> Greetings folks!
>
>
>
> Say a force is applied on an object to rotate it about a hinge.  Why does 
> it get easier (like needing less force) to rotate the object as the force 
> is applied farther from the hinge?
>
>
>
> ~ Hasan Fakhruddin
>
> Instructor of Physics
>
> The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities
>
> Ball State University
>
> Muncie, IN 47306
>
> _______________________________________________
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