20191016

Online reading assignment: torque and rotations

Physics 205A, fall semester 2019
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students have a bi-weekly online reading assignment (hosted by SurveyMonkey.com), where they answer questions based on reading their textbook, material covered in previous lectures, opinion questions, and/or asking (anonymous) questions or making (anonymous) comments. Full credit is given for completing the online reading assignment before next week's lecture, regardless if whether their answers are correct/incorrect. Selected results/questions/comments are addressed by the instructor at the start of the following lecture.

The following questions were asked on reading textbook chapters and previewing a presentation on torque and rotations.


Selected/edited responses are given below.

Describe what you understand from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview. Your description (2-3 sentences) should specifically demonstrate your level of understanding.
"Magnitude of torque is equal to the magnitude of force times the lever arm, which means there is more torque when you push near the outside end of lever in the direction of the hinge. The line of action is parallel and overlapping the force applied."

"How to solve for torque; it can vary due to the position of the force and the length of an object that it accompanies. if a force is applied at the very end of a length while being perpendicular to the object you'll achieve maximum torque."

"The idea of Newtons's first and second law when applied to torque and rotations. Like force, when net torque is equal to zero, Newton's first law is in effect; moreover, if torque adds up to something other than zero, Newton's second law applies."

"The lug nuts do get supertight so it was helpful to see an example that I could personally relate to which makes torque and twist easier to understand. The force and direction (ccw/cw) also made sense because of the rotation or 'twist' and the force making it do so."

"The line of action and the lever arm are important concepts when talking about torque. The line of action being an extended line drawn co-linear with the force and the lever arm referring to the perpendicular distance between the line of action and the axis of rotation."

Describe what you found confusing from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview. Your description (2-3 sentences) should specifically identify the concept(s) that you do not understand.
"Exactly how to apply Newton’s laws to the rotational motion."

"The line of action and the perpendicular lever arm. Although I generally understood the examples of Newtons's laws in relation to torque, I need help in class--through examples--to see how these lines of actions are drawn and how they allow the determination of a lever arm or vice versa."

"I think I understand torque for the most part. I just have trouble visualizing how the line of action and lever arm work for different/more complicated real-world examples."

"Just the formulas obviously, but nothing practice won't help."

"I am confused about how torque can zero, or would that be considered a non-existent idea?"

"I am having a hard time understanding the equilibrium of a rigid body. I understand that if a rigid body is in equilibrium the sum of the externally applied forces is zero and the sum of the applied toques is zero, but what if it isn't in equilibrium, and how do we know if it is, and will we even have to worry about that?"

What is the SI (Système International) unit for torque?
"A newton meter (N·m)."

"Newton·meters, not to be confused with joules."

Briefly describe how the line of action should be drawn for a given force.
"The line of action is drawn collinear with force."

"Extend a line along force vector."

"The line of action should be drawn co-linear with the force. It is an extended line and is usually dotted."

When a lever arm (or moment arm) is drawn, briefly explain where it starts, and how it should intersect the line of action for a force.
"The lever arm is defined as the perpendicular distance from the axis rotation to the line of action of the force."

"Starts at the axis of rotation origin, and is perpendicular to the line of action."

"Extend a line along this force vector--this is the line of action, which is just a guide to find the perpendicular lever arm, which starts at the pivot point, and at the other end must intersect the line of action perpendicularly."

For the stuck wrench (assuming that it is rigid and not flexing), Newton's rotational __________ law applies, and the clockwise torques and counterclockwise torques acting on the wrench are __________.
first; balanced.   ********************************************* [45]
second; unbalanced.   **** [4]
(Unsure/lost/guessing/help!)   [0]

For the crane, Newton's rotational __________ law applies, and the clockwise torques and counterclockwise torques acting on the crane are __________.
first; balanced.   ** [2]
second; unbalanced.   *********************************************** [47]
(Unsure/lost/guessing/help!)   [0]

Ask the instructor an anonymous question, or make a comment. Selected questions/comments may be discussed in class.
"Can all the forces besides weight force be considered in calculating torque?" (Yes, definitely.)

"How would the guy use the spanner to apply a greater amount of torque? Use a longer spanner?" (Yes, or apply a perpendicular force to end of the original size spanner.)

"Am I just completely missing the section of Newton's rotational laws? I am assuming we are just applying the laws we already know?"

"Are Newton's rotational laws the same as his laws of motion?" (The textbook does not actually state Newton's laws as applied to rotations, but Newton's first law for rotations is when net torque is zero if rotational motion is constant (which includes no rotations), and Newton's second law for rotations is when the net force is non-zero, such that rotational motion will be changing. Newton's third law for rotations is very obscure; so we're not going there.)

Your use of 'esoteric' had a double meaning in that few people would use such a means to calculate torque (line of action and perpendicular lever arm) would be equaled by the number of people who would understand the meaning of 'esoteric.' LOL"

"I've never seen a crane fall." (It is bad luck to see a crane fall.)

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