IB Physics HL A 4 1 Hl Torque Questions
Calculate torque from force, lever arm and angle, then apply resultant moments to rotating bodies, pivots, pedals, flywheels and tension problems.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Course
- Physics HL
- Level
- HL
Exam points
- Calculate torque magnitude from force, perpendicular distance and the angle to the radius.
- Sum clockwise and anticlockwise torques with a sign convention to find resultant torque and direction.
- Identify zero torque when a force’s line of action passes through the rotation axis.
- Compare how changing the force angle or lever arm changes torque in pedals and other rotating systems.
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IB Physics HL A 4 1 Hl Torque Questions question 1
A student models a rotating dancer using a system that consists of a vertical cylinder, a horizontal rod and two spheres.
The cylinder rotates from rest about the central vertical axis. A rod passes through the cylinder with a sphere on each side of the cylinder. Each sphere can move along the rod. Initially the spheres are close to the cylinder.
A horizontal force of 50 N is applied perpendicular to the rod at a distance of 0.50 m from the central axis. Another horizontal force of 40 N is applied in the opposite direction at a distance of 0.20 m from the central axis. Air resistance is negligible.
Show that the net torque on the system about the central axis is approximately 30 Nm .
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