What term describes the force of rotation in mechanical systems?

The term that describes the force of rotation in mechanical systems is torque. Torque is defined as a measure of the rotational force that causes an object to turn around an axis. It is a vector quantity, typically calculated as the product of the force applied and the distance from the pivot point (or axis of rotation) to where the force is applied. This relationship indicates that both the amount of force and the distance from the pivot point are crucial in determining how effectively that force will cause an object to rotate.

In contrast, power refers to the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred over time, while momentum pertains to the quantity of motion an object possesses, dependent on its mass and velocity. Yield strength is a material property that describes the maximum stress a material can withstand before it begins to deform permanently. Thus, while power, momentum, and yield strength are important concepts in their respective contexts, torque specifically addresses the aspect of rotational motion in mechanical systems.