AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Flashcards: Torque and Work
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
If a constant torque is applied to a rigid body, but the body does not rotate, how much work is done?
Zero work is done because there is no angular displacement (Δθ = 0), and work requires a torque to be exerted over a displacement.
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If a constant torque is applied to a rigid body, but the body does not rotate, how much work is done?
Zero work is done because there is no angular displacement (Δθ = 0), and work requires a torque to be exerted over a displacement.
How can you determine the work done by a variable torque from a graph?
The work done by a torque can be found by calculating the area under the curve of a graph of torque as a function of angular position.
What two quantities determine the amount of work done on a rigid system by a torque?
The work done is determined by the magnitude of the torque and the angular displacement through which the system rotates while the torque is exerted.
To calculate the work done by a torque, what information must you know besides the magnitude of the torque itself?
You must know the angular displacement through which the rigid system rotates during the interval in which the torque is exerted.
In the equation W = τΔθ, what does Δθ represent?
The variable Δθ (delta theta) represents the angular displacement through which the rigid system rotates.
Under what condition can a torque transfer energy into or out of a rigid system?
A torque can transfer energy (do work) on a rigid system only if the torque is exerted over an angular displacement.
What is the formula for the work done on a rigid system by a constant torque?
The work done (W) by a constant torque (τ) is the product of the torque and the angular displacement (Δθ), given by the equation W = τΔθ.
What physical quantity does the area under a torque vs. angular position graph represent?
The area under the curve of a graph of torque as a function of angular position represents the work done on the rigid system.
How does a collection of torques do work on a rigid system?
The total work done on a rigid system by a collection of torques is the net work resulting from all torques being exerted over an angular displacement.
Define the relationship between work and torque.
Work is the energy transferred to or from a rigid system by a torque that is exerted over a specific angular displacement.