Torque

Often a machine is said to have alot of torque if it jolts forward fast. Well torque is the rotational equivalent of force and is equal to: T=Ia where:

T=net torque

I=moment of inertia

a= angular acceleration in radians/seconds^2

 

Torque is only present when a rotating object, such as the crankshaft, is experiencing radial acceleration. So if rpm, revolutions per minute, is constant then no net torque is happening. But if rpm is changing there is a net torque.

 

Also important to note that acceleration is a change in velocity so whether an object speeds up or slows down it is experiencing acceleration.

 

Additionally a rotating object always has centripital acceleration which keeps the object in a circular path, but centripital acceleration just changes the direction of the object to keep it in the circle.