Moment of force and work done by a force have the same units. Then, what is the difference between them?

The moment of force (also called torque) and work done by a force both have the same unit, which is the Newton-meter (Nm). However, they represent different concepts.

Moment of Force (Torque):

  • It is the measure of the rotational effect of a force applied at a distance from a pivot point.
  • It is calculated as the product of the force and the distance from the pivot (Moment = Force × Distance).
  • Its direction can be clockwise or counterclockwise.

Work Done by a Force:

  • It measures the energy transferred when a force moves an object over a distance in the direction of the force.
  • It is calculated as the product of the force and the distance moved in the direction of the force (Work = Force × Distance).
  • It always has a direction associated with the movement of the object.

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