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Torque Calculator

Turning force from force, lever arm and angle.

N
m
Wrench length, pedal crank, door width.
°
90° = pushing perpendicular, the most effective.

Torque is leverage

T = F × r × sin(θ)

200 N on a 30 cm wrench, pushed square, is 60 N·m: a typical car wheel-bolt spec. Can't reach it? A longer wrench multiplies your force for free, which is the whole point of levers, breaker bars and door handles on the far edge of the door.

The sine factor

Only the perpendicular part of the force turns anything. Pushing along the wrench (θ = 0) does nothing but shove the bolt sideways. That's also why pedaling has dead spots at the top and bottom of the stroke: the crank angle steals the sine.