Question

Answer yes or no to the following questions.

(a) Is it possible to calculate the torque acting on a rigid object without specifying an axis of rotation?

(b) Is the torque independent of the location of the axis of rotation?

Short answer

(a)No, it is not possible to calculate the torque acting on the rigid as the axis of rotation is not specified.

(b) No, it is dependent on its axis of rotation by $\overrightarrow{\tau }=\overrightarrow{\text{r}}\times \overrightarrow{\text{F}}$, where $\overrightarrow{\text{r}}$is the position of vector along axis.

Step-by-step solution

0f 2: Conceptualize

The ideal concept of this problem is purely based on the definition of the torque

0f 2: Analyse

(a)

No, it is not possible to calculate the torque acting on the rigid as the axis of rotation is not specified.

When a force exerted on a rigid body about an axis, the object would try to rotate about that particular axis.

Hence, the tendency of force that measures by vector quantity is torque.

(b)

No, it is dependent on its axis of rotation by$\overrightarrow{\tau }=\overrightarrow{\text{r}}\times \overrightarrow{\text{F}}$, where$\overrightarrow{\text{r}}$is the position of vector along axis.

Hence, the moment arm of each force is measured from its axis.