Editing Apple Ripper (section)

== Why This Works ==

Torque is a rotational force. It is the force you need to apply to something in order for it to rotate on a fixed axis, or point of rotation. The farther you are from the point of rotation, the less force is required, and the easier it becomes to turn. Torque is easy to show using a door; the doorknob is far from the hinges of the door, and it is easy to open the door by pushing or pulling near the doorknob. It is much harder when you push or pull nearer to the hinge, because of the affect that distance has on the force you need to apply.

When we are ripping an apple in half, we are using the base of the apple as the point of rotation. By placing your thumbs at the stem and your fingers at the base, you are using your hand much like a lever, with the distance from your thumb to the base of the apple determining the force you need. The larger the gap between your thumb and the other fingers, the greater the leverage you will have, and therefore the easier it gets to rip the apple in half. A tall apple gives enough height to make a noticeable difference in leverage, which is why the short apple will be much harder to do this with.