Understanding Torque Problems and the Role of Gravity: Explained"

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In summary, when dealing with torque problems involving a long piece of wood resting on two metal poles, gravity is always factored in at the center of mass. This is because the total gravitational force on a body is always through the center of gravity, and in a uniform gravitational field, the center of gravity and center of mass are the same. This assumption is made for all purposes, not just for torque.
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oneplusone
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Hello,

I was working on a problem dealing with torque, and it was basically a long piece of wood resting on top of two metal poles. (scaffold like), and a worker standing on one end of the wood.

When i was reading the solution, i noticed that gravity was factored in at the center of mass.
I think this is because I chose the pivot point as the intersection of one of the metal poles and the piece of wood.

My question is: is gravity in torque questions ALWAYS factored in at the center of mass??

Thanks a lot!
 
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hello oneplusone! :smile:
oneplusone said:
is gravity in torque questions ALWAYS factored in at the center of mass??

yes …

the total gravitational force on a body is always through the centre of gravity (that's for all purposes, not just for torque) …

that's the definition of centre of gravity​

we always assume that any apparatus on Earth is in a uniform gravitational field,

and in a uniform gravitational field, the centre of gravity and the centre of mass are the same (for fairly obvious reasons) :wink:
 

FAQ: Understanding Torque Problems and the Role of Gravity: Explained"

What is torque?

Torque is a measure of the force that causes an object to rotate around an axis or pivot point. It is calculated by multiplying the force applied to an object by the distance from the pivot point to the point where the force is applied.

How does gravity affect torque?

Gravity can create torque when it acts on an object that is not at its center of mass. The force of gravity acting on an object is known as its weight, and this weight creates a torque that causes the object to rotate around its center of mass.

How do you calculate torque in a gravity problem?

To calculate torque in a gravity problem, you need to know the force of gravity acting on the object and the distance from the pivot point to the point where the force is applied. Then, you can use the equation torque = force x distance to calculate the torque.

What is the relationship between torque and rotational equilibrium?

In order for an object to be in rotational equilibrium (meaning it is not rotating), the net torque acting on the object must be zero. This means that the clockwise torques must be balanced by the counterclockwise torques.

How does the lever arm affect torque in a gravity problem?

The lever arm is the perpendicular distance from the pivot point to the line of action of the force. The longer the lever arm, the greater the torque will be. In a gravity problem, a longer lever arm means that the force of gravity will create a greater torque on the object.

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