110 MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES
Problem 3. The circular hand-wheel of a
valve of diameter 500 mm has a couple
applied to it composed of two forces, each of
250 N. Calculate the torque produced by the
couple.
Torque produced by couple,T=Fd, where force
F=250 N and distance between the forces,
d=500 mm= 0 .5m.
Hence,torque,T=( 250 )( 0. 5 )=125 N m
Now try the following exercise
Exercise 44 Further problems on torque
- Determine the torque developed when a
force of 200 N is applied tangentially to
a spanner at a distance of 350 mm from
the centre of the nut. [70 N m] - During a machining test on a lathe, the
tangential force on the tool is 150 N. If
the torque on the lathe spindle is 12 N m,
determine the diameter of the work-piece.
[160 mm]
9.2 Work done and power transmitted
by a constant torque
Figure 9.3(a) shows a pulley wheel of radius r
metres attached to a shaft and a forceFNewton’s
applied to the rim at pointP.
r
s
r
P
P
F
(a) F (b)
θ
Figure 9.3
Figure 9.3(b) shows the pulley wheel having turned
through an angleθradians as a result of the forceF
being applied. The force moves through a distance
s, where arc lengths=rθ
Work done=force×distance moved by the force
=F×rθ=FrθNm=FrθJ
However,Fris the torqueT, hence,
work done=Tθjoules
Average power=
work done
time taken
=
Tθ
time taken
for a constant torqueT
However, (angleθ)/(time taken)=angular veloc-
ity,ωrad/s
Hence, power,P=Tωwatts ( 9. 1 )
Angular velocity,ω= 2 πnrad/s wherenis the
speed in rev/s
Hence, power,P=^2 πnTwatts ( 9. 2 )
Sometimes power is in units of horsepower (hp),
where
1 horsepower= 745 .7 watts
i.e. 1hp=^745 .7 watts
Problem 4. A constant force of 150 N is
applied tangentially to a wheel of diameter
140 mm. Determine the work done, in joules,
in 12 revolutions of the wheel.
Torque T=Fr,whereF=150 N and radius
r=
140
2
=70 mm= 0 .070 m.
Hence, torqueT=( 150 )( 0. 070 )= 10 .5Nm.
Work done=Tθjoules, where torque,
T = 10 .5 N m and angular displacement,θ = 12
revolutions= 12 × 2 πrad= 24 πrad.
Hence,work done=( 10. 5 )( 24 π)=792 J
Problem 5. Calculate the torque developed
by a motor whose spindle is rotating at 1000
rev/min and developing a power of 2.50 kW.