Which of the situations below shows where the torque is the smallest?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to determine which of the illustrated scenarios shows the smallest torque. Torque depends on the angle and distance from the pivot point, hence the situation that results in the least effective lever arm or angle with respect to the force applied should have the smallest torque.
Answer
Diagram 1 shows the smallest torque.
The situation where the torque is the smallest is Diagram 1, as the force is applied close to the pivot point, resulting in a minimal perpendicular distance and therefore the smallest torque.
Answer for screen readers
The situation where the torque is the smallest is Diagram 1, as the force is applied close to the pivot point, resulting in a minimal perpendicular distance and therefore the smallest torque.
More Information
Torque depends on the force's perpendicular distance from the pivot. The smaller the distance, the smaller the torque, assuming the force magnitude is the same.
Tips
Ensure you correctly identify the pivot point and measure the perpendicular distance accurately. Remember, the closer the force is applied to the pivot, the smaller the torque.
