So, I'm trying to conceptualize something and there's a part of torque I'm not sure if (more how) I should consider.

 

There are four legs. Each leg is on the corner of a square object, pointing outwards in an extension from the center of the square. Each leg is on a pivot that will allow it to move up and down, but not side to side.

If I have two vectors for torque, one up-and-down and one side-to-side, do I need to take the side-to-side one into consideration for how the whole object would end up moving? I'm thinking yes. In that case, do I use the length of the arm or the distance to the center of the object for the length of the moment arm?

 

As an extension, if I don't need to take the side-to-side one into consideration (please explain why if that is the case), do I then need to take up-and-down into consideration if the pivot is lockable (ie, I set the pivot to the angle I want before setting the object down)?

 

Another, nastier piece of this torque issue:

If I have a third force (sometimes called F_Rad), I believe I have to take this force into consideration in how the whole object moves (even though it doesn't, from my understanding, affect the leg). The torque arm in this case is hard to define--can I say that the force is applied at the point where the leg meets the central object, or must I take other factors into account? Then, I believe, the torque arm will be the length from the corner to the center of the square (we're in three dimensions, I suppose the object's a cube). Is this right?

 

Either telling me or linking me elsewhere is more than good. Thanks a bunch in advance.

A picture would help.

Yeah, I suppose it would. Unfortunately it's not a physical thing, so I'll see what I can throw together in paint or GIMP.

 

I'm beginning to think I'm vastly overthinking the issue here, but I'll save the comments until I post my picture(s).

That would help.. a square with four pivoted legs wont have any torques involved unless there are forces applied to it somewhere.