Torque on a Wheel
Where you push a wheel matters as much as how hard. This simulation lets you apply a force at any point and any angle, showing how the perpendicular distance to the axle governs the turning effect.
How to use this simulation
- Apply the force at different distances from the axle
- Change the angle between the force and the radius
- Read the resulting torque and angular acceleration
What to look for
- Doubling the distance from the axle doubles the torque
- A force aimed straight at the axle produces no rotation
- Torque is greatest when the force acts perpendicular to the radius
The physics behind it
Torque is τ = F·d, where d is the perpendicular distance from the axis to the force's line of action. Applying the force further out, or at right angles to the radius, increases the torque. A force whose line passes through the axle has zero perpendicular distance and produces no turning effect at all, however large it is.