Moment vs torque

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What is the difference between moment and torque?

In physics, they signify the same thing but in mechanics, they hold slightly different meanings. Both have the same unit i.e. N-m but torque is a movement force whereas the moment is a static force. Torque is used where there is rotation involved whereas moment Is used where there is no rotation.

movement
Photo by Pixabay

Application of moment and torque for varied and interesting to observe. I hope everyone has played on a seesaw at least once in their life.
What if I tell you that you can keep the saw balanced by having a 120 kg person one side and a 50kg person on the other side?

balancing
Photo by Mike Anderson

It seems difficult to accept but if you place them in such a way that the lighter person is at 3m from the center and the healthy person is at 1m. They both will apply the same moment and the seesaw will be balanced.

In rural areas, people still use the concept of the moment to churn milk. By providing a torque to the handle with the help of the rope the wooden stick rotates about its axis and thus, in turn, churns the milk.

A similar concept of torque is used in old dams where the force of the falling water rotated the water wheel. The water wheel was connected to a dynamo thus generating electricity by the principle of conversion of kinetic energy into potential energy.

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