Torque
Convert between different units of torque used in mechanics, engineering, and physics
Torque Converter
Convert between different units of torque used in mechanics, engineering, and physics
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About Torque
Explore torque units from mechanical engineering, automotive, aerospace, and physics contexts
Historical Context
The concept of torque has been understood since ancient times when levers and simple machines were first used. However, the formal mathematical treatment of torque began with Archimedes' work on levers around 250 BCE. The term 'torque' itself comes from the Latin word 'torquere,' meaning 'to twist.' In the 17th century, with the development of Newtonian mechanics, torque was more rigorously defined. The modern understanding of torque as a vector quantity was developed in the 19th century, with the newton-meter becoming the standard SI unit. Different fields developed their own units - engineering fields in English-speaking countries adopted pound-force foot, while many Asian countries standardized on kilogram-force meter.
Modern Standards
Today, the newton-meter (N·m) is the standard SI unit for torque. In the automotive industry, pound-force foot (lbf·ft) remains common in the United States and United Kingdom, while kilogram-force meter (kgf·m) is widely used in many Asian countries. Scientific research often employs CGS units like dyne-centimeter (dyn·cm) for precision work. The aerospace industry has strict torque specifications using both metric and imperial units depending on the manufacturer and region. Modern digital torque wrenches can display multiple units simultaneously, allowing engineers to work seamlessly across different standards.
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Conversion Reference
Quick reference for common torque conversions