Torque

Einstein Park was a crowd-favorite hang-out spot for the residents of Eureka Shores. Whether it was the soft, emerald grass or the beautiful water fountains, it had everything a kid could ever want. Not to mention, the best playground Zoey and Maya had ever seen.

“I love the Einstein Park playground!” Zoey exclaimed, speeding down the slide.

Maya grinned, “Me too. I mean, what park has a zip line?! It’s awesome.”

The girls continued walking through the park, stumbling upon a whimsical playground carousel. Its colorful horses and chariots stood frozen in anticipation, seemingly waiting for someone to hop on. Little did our duo know, this carousel would become the setting for a magical scientific adventure—an exploration into the realm of torque.

Maya couldn't resist the allure of the carousel's spinning charm. "This looks like a spinning mystery waiting to be unraveled.”

Zoey, with her adventurous spirit ignited, chuckled, "I’ve heard about this. The ability to get things turning, that is. I think it’s called torque!”

A booming voice exuded from the center of the carousel, “Torque, you say? Sounds like the kind of wizardry I can get behind.”

Zoey and Maya jumped back, surprised at the mysterious sound. “Who are you?”

“You can call me… Sir Torquey. I too, enjoy exploring the mystery of spinning objects.”

Maya’s eyebrows furrowed. Sir Torquey didn’t seem like a very common name.

Maya scoffed, “Okay, Sir Torquey. If you really are such an expert at torque - or the measure of how much things spin - I have a question for you. What's the key to spinning it faster or slower?”

Sir Torquey laugh’s echoed around the carousel. “Easy question. Torque, my friends, depends on force and distance. In fact, it is equal to force and the distance from the center of the object multiplied! The farther we push something from the center, the more torque."

“Okay, well, what does more torque mean?”

"Ah, a curious mind! More torque means more twisting power. Imagine trying to turn a giant key to start a magical engine. The harder you push at the edge, the stronger the twist, and the faster the magic begins!"

With Sir Torquey’s words hanging in the air like a spell, the duo embarked on their torque adventure. Zoey, eyes gleaming with mischief, pushed from the outer edge, creating a powerful torque that sent the carousel into a whirlwind of motion. Maya, on the other hand, experimented by pushing closer to the center, coaxing the carousel into a slow spin. They watched in joy as the carousel transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors, dancing in harmony with the science and joy of the moment.

Zoey grinned, “I think Sir Torquey is right! When I push further from the center, it’s much easier to get it spinning, and it spins faster! And of course, when I place a larger force (or push harder), it spins faster.”

Maya gasped, “Sir Torquey, you are a torque master. Reveal yourself!”

Sir Torquey cleared his throat, “Unfortunately, I can’t. A magician never reveals their tricks… or in this case, themselves.”

Zoey sighed, “Aw man. Well, Sir Torquey, thanks for teaching us about the magic of torque.”

“Cheerio!”

As the duo ran home from the carousel, Maya couldn’t help but exclaim, “Torque, you've spun our day into a magical story!"