Torque

Last Friday, we learned the difference between circular motion and rotational motion. While with circular motion we could calculate centripetal forces, with rotational motion we can use an equation to determine torque, which depends on two factors: Force and Lever Arm Distance (T=F*r). In paddling, the more torque you can produce, the faster the canoe will move. In the picture, the measuring tape goes from the handle of the paddle to the typical place where your bottom hand should be. This is effectively the lever arm distance. Paddling coaches say to hold as low as possible on the paddle because as the lever arm distance increases, so does torque.