Tool talk: what happens when you use an impact socket extension. YouTube video. (1 Viewer)

[alia176]

I learned something new today!!

 

[pappy]

Way cool. I knew there was a torque loss, but it's nice to see how much.

 

[marcfj60]

Way cool. I knew there was a torque loss, but it's nice to see how much.

Fascinating test and now I'm coming up with the physics of this in my head that supports the results. The first explanation I can think of related to the reduced torque with longer extensions has to do with the elastic nature of the metal. Think along the same lines of how torsion bar suspension work. They flex but they don't bend (at least under normal loads). You lose some of the energy being imparted by the impact with that torsional "elastic" deformation. The more material you have available to flex (longer extensions) the more energy lost from that flexing.

 

[pappy]

Fascinating test and now I'm coming up with the physics of this in my head that supports the results. The first explanation I can think of related to the reduced torque with longer extensions has to do with the elastic nature of the metal. Think along the same lines of how torsion bar suspension work. They flex but they don't bend (at least under normal loads). You lose some of the energy being imparted by the impact with that torsional "elastic" deformation. The more material you have available to flex (longer extensions) the more energy lost from that flexing.

I think there is some energy lost in the connection too. I know my extensions are not completely tight on the sockets. They do have a little play.

 

[Quantumkiwi]

Fascinating test and now I'm coming up with the physics of this in my head that supports the results. The first explanation I can think of related to the reduced torque with longer extensions has to do with the elastic nature of the metal. Think along the same lines of how torsion bar suspension work. They flex but they don't bend (at least under normal loads). You lose some of the energy being imparted by the impact with that torsional "elastic" deformation. The more material you have available to flex (longer extensions) the more energy lost from that flexing.

Yep. This is also exactly how torque bars work. Instead of varying the length, they change the diameter of the bar.