Friction torque

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (January 2008)
This image displays an example situation where there is an active frictional torque. The large black vector arrow represents the primary force acting on the bar (the thick black line), causing it to rotate around the gray dot at its opposite end which represents an axle. The large red vector arrow represents the torque caused by the primary force. The small black vector arrow represents the frictional force caused by the bar sliding across the second bar (grey). This image displays an example situation where there is an active frictional torque. The large black vector arrow represents the primary force acting on the bar (the thick black line), causing it to rotate around the gray dot at its opposite end which represents an axle. The large red vector arrow represents the torque caused by the primary force. The small black vector arrow represents the frictional force caused by the bar sliding across the second bar (grey).

Friction torque is the torque caused by the frictional force that occurs when two objects in contact move. Like all torques, it is a rotational force which may be measured newton metres or pounds-feet.

Engineering

Friction torque can be disruptive in engineering. There are a variety of measures engineers may choose to take to eliminate these disruptions. Ball bearings are an example of an attempt to minimize the friction torque.

Examples