What term describes the force that tends to cause rotational movement of an object?

The term that describes the force that tends to cause rotational movement of an object is "torque" or "turning force." Torque is a measure of the rotational force applied at a distance from the axis of rotation. It is calculated as the product of the force applied and the perpendicular distance from the point of application of the force to the axis of rotation. This concept is crucial in mechanics as it explains how different forces can cause objects to rotate or spin around a pivot point. Understanding torque is essential for marine operations, especially in the context of vessels and equipment, where controlling the rotation of machinery and maneuvers is often necessary.

Other options describe different concepts: mechanical advantage refers to the ratio of output force to input force in a mechanical system, frictional force is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, and angular velocity measures the rate of rotation of an object but does not itself describe the force causing the rotation. Each of these concepts plays a role in physics and engineering, but they do not pertain to the specific capability of inducing rotational movement like torque does.