Exercises on Torque

Helena Dedic

Beware: Many of the solutions to these exercises use $g=10m/s^{2}$ !

Exercise 1

A force of 10 N acts on a meter stick as shown in the diagram below. Determine the torque about a pivot shown in the diagram that is exerted by this force on the stick in each of the cases shown.

• SOLUTION EX 1
  
  

Exercise 2

Determine the torque exerted by the gravitational force on a pendulum of length 0.6 m and mass 0.25 kg when the pendulum makes an angle of $\theta$ = 37° with the vertical.

• SOLUTION EX 2
  
  

Exercise 3

A ten foot ladder of mass 7 kg stands leaning against the wall as shown in the diagram below. Determine the torque about the pivot shown in the diagram that is exerted by the gravitational force on the ladder.

• SOLUTION EX 3
  
  

Exercise 4

A cyclist exerts a vertical force of 120 N on a pedal rod of length 20 cm that is inclined at an angle $\theta$ to the horizontal. Find the torque about the axle for the following values of $\theta$: (a) 0°; (b) 30°; (c) 45°; (d) 60°.

• SOLUTION EX 4