Torque Wrench

This applet demonstrates torque by allowing the user to adjust wrench length and position and force vector and see the resulting magnitude of the torque.

The tan colored region is the wrench. Grab its point with the mouse pointer and move SLOWLY to adjust its length or position. The wrench can be thought of as turning a bolt at the round end.

The red arrow is the force vector applied to the pointed end of the wrench. By clicking (or dragging) anywhere (except too close to the pointed end of the wrench) you can pick a new starting point for the force vector.

The green sliding rectangle indicates the magnitude of the resulting torque.

There are two black tick marks on the wrench to indicate the scale used for one unit of all of torque, force, and length.

See how adjusting the wrench and moving the force vector effect the magnitude of the torque. When you think you have a good feel for how these are related, try filling in the "lab report" for the Torque Wrench.

The code for the applet above is online.

Here is a picture of an actual torque wrench.

Also available are two large pictures of this wrench in use! Mr. Greg Denevan is using it to tighten the valve cover retaining bolts on the 3-71 GMC diesel generator used in a USNA Yard Patrol Craft. Close up view. (Warning: These are BIG files!)

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USNA Mathematics Department
Comments to: Professor Carol G. Crawford, at cgc@nadn.navy.mil or Professor Mark D. Meyerson, at mdm@nadn.navy.mil