At 111111:55\text{ p.M.}55 p.M.55, start text, space, p, point, m, point, end text, Thomas ties a weight to the minute hand of a clock. The clockwise torque applied by the weight (i.E. The force it applies on the clock's hand to move clockwise) varies in a periodic way that can be modeled by a trigonometric function. The torque peaks 151515 minutes after each whole hour, when the minute hand is pointing directly to the right, at 3\text{ Nm}3 Nm3, start text, space, N, m, end text (Newton metre, the SI unit for torque). The minimum torque of -3\text{ Nm}−3 Nmminus, 3, start text, space, N, m, end text occurs 151515 minutes before each whole hour, when the minute hand is pointing directly to the left.
