What is the common unit for measuring torque in mechanical design?

The common unit for measuring torque in mechanical design is Newton-meters. Torque is defined as the rotational equivalent of linear force, quantifying how much a force acting on an object causes that object to rotate. The unit of force in the metric system is the Newton, and when considering the distance from the pivot point (measured in meters), this leads to the unit of torque being expressed in Newton-meters (N·m).

Understanding this, it's important to note that torque is a measure of how effectively a force can induce rotational motion around an axis, which is distinct from other mechanical quantities. For instance, Pascals are used for measuring pressure, Joules are units of energy, and Watts are units of power. Each of these has its own specific applications and cannot serve as appropriate measures for torque. Hence, Newton-meters stands out as the correct and commonly used unit for this particular mechanical quantity.