0

So torque and work are both distance times force but how can they be so different conceptually? I understand the torque is an outer product and is a vector while work is a dot product and is a scalar but I still don't understand how can two things measured with basically the same units express different concepts and convey different information?

Qmechanic
  • 201,751
Mahran Yousef
  • 1
  • 1
    It just so happens that the multiplication of a force by a displacement in two different ways produces two useful quantities. – Farcher Dec 25 '23 at 08:40
  • @Farcher Thank you for your response! I was wondering where is the information encoded tho? My intuition would have been in the units but this poses a problem for that. – Mahran Yousef Dec 25 '23 at 08:47
  • Possible duplicates: Why is torque not measured in Joules? and links therein. – Qmechanic Dec 25 '23 at 09:23
  • Torque doesn't necessarily produce work unless it causes angular displacement. Only NET torque does. – Bob D Dec 25 '23 at 14:52
  • @Qmechanic unfortunately it is not the same question. I'm trying to understand where is the hidden information that differentiate both measurements. I already said in the description I understand why they are different – Mahran Yousef Dec 26 '23 at 00:15
  • The simple fact is that there are way more physical quantities than the are dimensional combinations. This type of coincidence is the rule, not an exception that calls for an explanation. – Emilio Pisanty Dec 26 '23 at 00:38

0 Answers0