Torque (Physics)
Definition
The twisting effect of a force — how hard you turn a wrench depends on the force AND how far from the bolt you push.
Symbol: · Unit: newton-meter (N·m)
Technical definition
τ = r × F, with magnitude τ = rF sin θ. Torque is a vector along the rotation axis and causes angular acceleration via τ = Iα.
Example
Pushing with 50 N at the end of a 0.3 m wrench gives 15 N·m of torque — the same push halfway along the handle gives only 7.5 N·m.
Common confusion
Torque and work share the unit N·m, but torque is a vector (a twist) while work is a scalar (energy). A bolt never 'contains' torque the way a moving object contains energy.