What term describes the force that causes rotation of a lever?

The correct term that describes the force causing the rotation of a lever is torque. Torque is defined as the measure of the force that can cause an object to rotate about an axis. It is dependent on both the magnitude of the force applied and the distance from the axis of rotation to the point where the force is applied, which is known as the moment arm. In essence, torque is a rotational equivalent of linear force and is crucial in various physical activities, especially those involving levers.

Gravity, while it plays a significant role in physical interactions, specifically refers to the attractive force between two masses and does not describe rotational dynamics. Work relates to the energy transferred when a force is applied over a distance in the direction of the force, but it does not specifically account for rotation like torque does. Impulse refers to the change in momentum of an object when a force is applied over time, which does not capture the concept of rotation either. Therefore, torque is the most accurate term in the context of rotational force about a lever.