Physics Torque: Turning Force at a Distance
Torque is the turning effect of a force applied at a distance. Angle matters: only the perpendicular part turns the object.
What is the Physics Torque Calculator?
Enter force in newtons, lever-arm length in metres, and the angle in degrees. Torque is force times lever arm times sin(angle). All physics tools here use standard textbook formulas, labelled as such.
How to use it
- Enter the values in the labelled units.
- Click Calculate Torque.
- Read the result and its formula.
Worked example
A 50 N force at 0.4 m and 90 degrees gives torque of 20 N m.
What torque is 50 N at 0.4 m and 90 degrees?
20 newton-metres, from 50 times 0.4 times sin(90).
Frequently asked questions
What units should I use?
Use the units on the labels (kg, m, s, N, J, W) so the formula's result comes out in standard units.
Is this exact?
The formula is standard textbook physics; real measurements carry their own errors, but the arithmetic is exact.