----- Original Message -----
From: "caryccc" <caryccc@JUNO.COM>

> I'm sure this is a silly question for those of you in the know, but why
does
> the lever need to be horizontal when measuring torque?  The length of the
> lever is the same at any angle, and the force applied will be
perpendicular
> to the lever, right?

Well, no.  Imagine your lever is at the "4:30" position, i.e., 45 degrees
off horizontal.  Now hang your weight from the lever.  In which direction is
the weight hanging?  Vertically!  The force is *not* being applied
perpendicular to the lever, it's 45 degrees off, which changes the torque
being applied to the fastener, the difference being the sine of the angle.
To illustrate this point with an extreme example, imagine your lever at the
"6 o'clock" position and hang your weight off the lever.  What torque is
being applied in this case?  None.
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Tom Young                       '81 Vanagon
Lafayette, CA 94549         '82 Westfalia
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