Every textbook I read explained torque as just a product of force times the perpendicular distance between the axis of rotation and line of axis of force. However, I am finding it hard to understand it intuitively. How can I think of torque? Does it tell me how much force is needed to rotate a body or does it tell me by how much the body rotates due to the force?
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One way to think of torque, which can produce an angular acceleration, is as the rotational analogue of force, which can produce a linear acceleration.
This table extends the analogy between linear motion and rotational motion.
A demonstration of torque is as follows.
When a door is opened there is a frictional torque at the hinges opposing the opening.
Note the difference in the normal force that you have to apply when pushing a door closed, remote from the hinges where door handles normally are situated, and very close to the hinges.
Near the hinges you have to apply a (much) larger force to compensate for the reduction in the ditance from the hinges and where you did the pushing.
Farcher
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As already stated in the answer by @Farcher, torque can produce angular acceleration of an object. I emphasized the word "can" because torque does not necessarily produce angular acceleration. Only net torque does.
If there is an equal and opposite torque present, then the object will either not rotate at all (which is subject for statics), or if it does rotate, it will do so at constant angular velocity.
Hope this helps.
Bob D
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