# HELP! Tensors in semi-laymen's terms?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-tensors-in-semi-laymens-terms/55110>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 19, 2001, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-tensors-in-semi-laymens-terms/55110 "2001-02-19T20:51:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Ring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ring)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-tensors-in-semi-laymens-terms/55110/21 "2001-02-23T04:13:30Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> For example, if r = (1,0) and F = (0,1), Torque = r X F = 1

**Brad\_d** This is my fault.

In your example **r** would actually equal 1 **i** and **F** would equal 1 **j**. And 1 **i** X 1 **j** = 1 **k**. In other words r is on the x axis and F is on the y axis which puts the cross product on the z axis.

Sorry for the mistake

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-tensors-in-semi-laymens-terms/55110/22 "2001-02-23T14:05:15Z")

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Tenser, said the Tensor.  
Tenser, said the Tensor.  
Tension, apprehension and dissension have begun.

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