Torque is defined in relation to which of the following?

Torque is fundamentally defined as the tendency of a force to cause rotation around an axis. It is calculated as the product of the force applied and the distance from the point of rotation, known as the lever arm or moment arm. When leveraging torque, the direction of the applied force and the angle at which it is applied also play significant roles, but the primary relationship is that torque depends on both the magnitude of the force and how far from the axis that force is applied.

This relationship highlights why the correct choice is based on force and distance. In practical terms, if you push on a door at its handle (the distance from the hinges, where it rotates), you generate a higher torque than if you push closer to the hinges. Therefore, understanding torque requires recognizing how both force and the distance from the pivot point impact rotational motion.