Physics Vectors & Equilibrium PMDC Conceptual Practice
PMDC Verified Question 50 of 50
A force couple is formed by two equal and opposite forces that do not share a common line of action. Which of the following statements about a force couple is correct?
A
Its torque depends on the chosen coordinate origin.
B
It produces a non-zero net translational force.
C
Its net torque is independent of the coordinate origin.
D
It can cause translational acceleration of the body.
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option C: Its net torque is independent of the coordinate origin.
Concept:
Properties of a force couple.

Solution:
A couple consists of two forces of equal magnitude pointing in opposite directions (\(\vec{F}_1 = -\vec{F}_2\)).
The net force is exactly zero:
$$\vec{F}_{\text{net}} = \vec{F}_1 + \vec{F}_2 = 0$$
Because the net force is zero, the torque produced by a couple is constant and has the same value about any point in space, making it completely independent of the choice of coordinate origin.

Why other options are incorrect:
  • A is incorrect because the origin does not affect the torque calculation for a couple.
  • B and D are incorrect because the net force is zero, which means there is no translational acceleration.

Quality & Fidelity Assurance: Every question on BeambePrep is rigorously curated against the official PMDC syllabus with zero filler, zero out-of-syllabus content, and zero typos. When an authentic past paper originally contained a historical mistake or ambiguity from the examining board (such as UHS or NUMS), BeambePrep faithfully reflects the original paper while detailing the nuance and scientific consensus in the autopsy above.

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