Editing Torque (section)

== Principle of moments ==
The principle of moments, also known as [[Varignon's theorem (mechanics)|Varignon's theorem]] (not to be confused with the [[Varignon's theorem|geometrical theorem]] of the same name) states that the resultant torques due to several forces applied to about a point is equal to the sum of the contributing torques:

<math display="block">\tau = \mathbf{r}_1\times\mathbf{F}_1 + \mathbf{r}_2\times\mathbf{F}_2 + \ldots + \mathbf{r}_N\times\mathbf{F}_N. </math>

From this it follows that the torques resulting from N number of forces acting around a pivot on an object are balanced when

<math display="block">\mathbf{r}_1\times\mathbf{F}_1 + \mathbf{r}_2\times\mathbf{F}_2 + \ldots + \mathbf{r}_N\times\mathbf{F}_N = \mathbf{0}. </math>