In an effort to loosen the bolt on the wheel of a car, a man with a mass of 70 kg steps on the end of a 50-cm tire iron which is extending horizontally from the bolt. How much torque is he applying to the bolt?
A)340 N m
B)14 N m
C)140 N m
D)70 N m
E)35 N m

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The torque is equal to the force applied multiplied by the distance from the point of application to the axis of rotation. In this case, the force is the man's weight, which is 70 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 = 686 N. The distance from the point of application to the axis of rotation is 50 cm = 0.5 m. Therefore, the torque is 686 N * 0.5 m = 343 Nm.

In an Effort to Loosen the Bolt on the Wheel