Question

Which of the following best describes an example of torque?

torque is a force that resists motion, it occurs when two objects make contact
torque happens when force is applied with a lever in a rotational direction, like twisting a door knob or using a wrench
torque only happens when applied in a vertical direction, like jumping or throwing something up in the air
torque is a noncontact force and takes place only through electromagnetism

Answer 1

The second option is correct: torque happens when a force is applied with a lever in a rotational direction (e.g., twisting a doorknob or using a wrench).

Brief explanation: torque (moment) measures how effectively a force causes rotation about an axis. Mathematically τ = r × F (magnitude τ = rF sinθ), with units N·m. The other choices are incorrect: the first describes friction, the third wrongly restricts torque to vertical forces, and the fourth wrongly says torque is only a noncontact electromagnetic effect (torque can be produced by contact forces as well).