Torque Calculator
Work out torque instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
About Torque Calculator
Torque is force times the perpendicular distance to the pivot: rF sin theta. Only the component of force at right angles to the arm turns anything, which is why pulling along the spanner does nothing at all. 150 N at 0.35 m applied squarely gives 52.5 N m; at 30 degrees it would give half that.
Formulas
Torque
tau = r x F x sin(theta)
Effective arm
arm = r sin(theta)
Worked example
With the default values below, Torque Calculator returns Torque of 52.500. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Applied forceminimum 0 N
- 150 N
- Distance from the pivotminimum 0 m
- 0.35 m
- Angle between force and lever armaccepts 0–180 deg
- 90 deg
Results
- Torque
- 52.500 N m
- Same Torque In lbf ft
- 38.722
- Effective Moment Arm
- 0.3500 m
- Useful Perpendicular Force
- 150.000 N
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Torque
- 3Effective arm
- 4Torque= 52.500 N m
- 5Same Torque In lbf ft= 38.722
- 6Effective Moment Arm= 0.3500 m
- 7Useful Perpendicular Force= 150.000 N
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a longer spanner make loosening easier?
Torque scales with the arm, so doubling the length halves the force needed for the same turning effect.
What angle gives maximum torque?
90 degrees, where the sine is one. Any other angle wastes part of your effort pulling along the arm rather than around the pivot.