Case 1
- Force (N)
- 100N
- Lever arm (m)
- 0.5m
50.000N·m
Open with these valuesTorque Calculator
50.000N·m
Result: 50.000 N·mTorque is force times lever arm: a 100 N pull on a 0.5 m wrench gives 50 N·m. Doubling the length of the wrench doubles the torque, which is why a breaker bar loosens a bolt that a short spanner will not. This calculator assumes the force pulls at a right angle to the arm.
The numbers at a glance
Held fixed: Force (N) 100.000 N.
| Lever arm (m) (m) | Result (N·m) |
|---|---|
| 0.200 | 20.000 |
| 0.400 | 40.000 |
| 0.500Your value | 50.000 |
| 0.600 | 60.000 |
| 0.800 | 80.000 |
| 1.000 | 100.000 |
Worked examples
Case 2
- Force (N)
- 200N
- Lever arm (m)
- 0.3m
60.000N·m
Open with these valuesCase 3
- Force (N)
- 9.81N
- Lever arm (m)
- 1.5m
14.715N·m
Open with these valuesHow it's calculated
τ = F × r
- StepMeasure the force in newtons — one kilogram of weight pushes with about 9.81 N.
- StepMeasure the lever arm from the pivot to where the force acts, in metres.
- StepMultiply the two; the answer is in newton-metres.
- ResultPull at a right angle to the arm, or the real torque is lower.
Reference table
| Force, lever arm | What that feels like | Torque |
|---|---|---|
| 9.81, 1.5 | One kilogram hanging 1.5 m out | 14.715 |
| 12.5, 0.8 | A light pull on a door handle | 10 |
| 100, 0.5 | One hand on a 50 cm wrench | 50 |
| 200, 0.3 | Both hands on a short spanner | 60 |
| 50, 2 | A modest pull on a long breaker bar | 100 |
Questions
How do I calculate torque?
Multiply the force by the lever-arm length: τ = F × r. Newtons times metres gives newton-metres. A 100 N force on a 0.5 m wrench gives 50 N·m.
What is the lever arm?
The lever arm is the perpendicular distance from the pivot to the line along which the force acts. A longer lever arm produces more torque for the same force, which is why a longer wrench loosens a stubborn bolt more easily.
Does the angle of the force matter?
Yes, and this calculator assumes the force pulls at a right angle to the arm — the angle that gives the most torque. In general the torque is F × r × sin θ, so a force pulling along the arm produces none at all.
What is the difference between torque and force?
Force is a straight-line push or pull measured in newtons, while torque is the rotational effect that force produces, measured in newton-metres. The same force creates more torque when applied further from the pivot.
What units should I use?
Newtons for the force and metres for the lever arm, which gives newton-metres. If your lever arm is in centimetres, divide by 100 first. One newton-metre is the torque from a 1 N force on a 1 m lever arm.
Sources and last check
Information, not professional advice.