MOMENTS

-----------------------------------------------------------Objectives-------------------------------------------------------------------
At the end of this lesson students should be able to:
 Define the moment of a force
 Understand that the unit of moments (Nm)is not equivalent to the Joule
 Understand why it’s easier to loosen a nut using a longer spanner than a shorter one
 Understand why door knobs are placed as far from the hinges as possible
 Apply the principle of moments
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As previously seen, forces have the following effects:

1) They change the size and shape of a body

2) They change the state of motion of a body and cause it to accelerate

When you open or close a door you apply a force. Does the force change the size or shape of the door?
Does the door move from one location to another?

The door turns about its hinges. Forces may therefore produce some turning effect. The turning effect
produced by the force is called the moment of the force. The moment of a force about a point may be
defined as :

The product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the line of action of the force to the
point

The ability of a force to make an object turn depends on TWO factors:

the size of the force

the perpendicular distance the force is applied from the turning point.
Suppose Garfield the cat sits on a pivoted plank as shown:
The moment (M) of the force (F), that is Garfield’s weight, about the pivot is given by:

The SI unit of moment is the Newton-metre (Nm)

Consider the case of a spanner being used to loosen a nut:

 The spanner rotates about the fixed point (P) – the nut which acts as the pivot and therefore has a
moment about this point given by : F*d
 If F = 80 N and d = 0.10 m then the moment of the force about the point is 80N *0.10 m = 8 Nm. If this
is the moment required to loosen the nut, then the same moment can be produced
 at a greater perpendicular distance ( 0.20 m) by applying a smaller force (40 N)
 at a smaller perpendicular distance (0.05m) by applying a much larger force (160 N)
 It is therefore the size of the moment and not the size of the force itself which is important to loosen a
nut.
 A longer spanner provides a greater perpendicular distance and will therefore loosen a nut more easily
than a shorter spanner as a smaller force is needed to provide the required moment.
Consider what happens when you try to open or close a door.

 A force is applied at some perpendicular distance from axes of rotation which passes through the
hinges
 This force produces a turning effect which if large enough will cause the door to rotate
 IF the force is applied closer and closer to the hinges des it become easier or harder to get the
door moving? Why is this?
 The diagram below shows three forces A B and C acting on a door.

 Which of the three forces:

a) Opens the door easily
b) Struggles to open the door
c) Will never open the door regardless of how large it is?
Worked Example 01

Sirius is trying to release a nut with a spanner.

The diagram shows the size of the force he is exerting and where this force acts on the handle.

(a) The spanner applies a moment, or turning effect, to the nut. Calculate the size of this
moment or turning effect.

Moment = Fd
Moment = 90 N x 0.07 m
Moment = 6.30 N m

(b) Give two ways in which Sirius could increase the moment he applies using this spanner.
i. Increase the force he applies
ii. Apply the force further from the nut

Worked Example 02

A spanner gives a turning effect to undo a nut.

(a) Complete the sentence.

The turning effect of a force is called the _ _ _ _ _ _ of the force.

(b) The diagram below shows a spanner being used.

Calculate the spanner's turning effect in newton metres. ___N * ___m = ___Nm
(c) Give two ways in which you can increase the spanner's turning effect.

EQUILIBRIUM & THE PRINCIPLE OF MOMENTS

The figure below shows two people seated on a see-saw. Will the see-saw turn clockwise or
anticlockwise?

 A body is said to be in equilibrium when it is balanced under the action of a number of forces
 When a body is in equilibrium:
i. The resultant of all the forces acting on the body = 0. This means that

ii. The algebraic sum of all the moments of all the forces acting on the body = 0
 This second condition is formally known as the Principle of Moments and may also be stated as:
When a body is in equilibrium:

Consider the case of two persons sitting on either side of the pivot on a see-saw:
 The boy on the left of weight (W1) sits at a distance (d1) from the pivot and provides an
anticlockwise moment about the pivot given by W1d1.
 The girl on the right of weight (W2) sits at a distance (d2) from the pivot and provides a
clockwise moment about the pivot given by W2d2.
 In order for the see-saw to be balanced, that is in equilibrium:

 N.B. The reaction force at the pivot (Fp) acts through the pivot and therefore can
produce no moment about it
 When two persons of equal weight sit on either side of the pivot of a seesaw, they must
sit at the same distance from the pivot in order for the seesaw to remain balanced i.e.
horizontal. If one person is heavier than the other, the heavier person must sit closer to
the pivot.
Consider a meter rule balanced (in equilibrium) on a pivot at its centre by weights W1, W2, W3 and
W4 as shown below.

 The forces W1 and W2 tend to make the rule turn in the anticlockwise direction about the pivot.
Therefore, the moments due to these weights are referred to as an anticlockwise moments.
 Similarly, the forces W3 and W4 tend to make the rule turn in a clockwise direction and therefore, their
moments about the pivot are clockwise moments.
Sum of clockwise moment =W3d3 + W4d4
Sum of anticlockwise moment =W1d1 + W2d2
At equilibrium (balance)according to the principle of moments

Sum of clockwise moments about pivot = Sum of anti-clockwise moments about pivot
W3d3+W4d4=W1d1+W2d2

Worked Example 03:

The diagram shows a balanced beam. Calculate the value of the force F.

 The 5 N force produces a clockwise moment about the pivot, the magnitude of which is
given by:

 The force F produces an anticlockwise moment about the pivot, the magnitude of which is
given by:

 In order for the beam to be balanced, the anticlockwise moment produced by F must be
equal in magnitude to the clockwise moment produced by the 5 N.
Worked Example 04:
Calculate the value of F2 needed to balance the beam.

The 2N force produces a clockwise moments about the pivot given by

The 3N force produces a clockwise moment about the pivot given by

F2 produces an anticlockwise moment about the pivot given by

According to the principle of moments:

Worked Example 05:
A uniform rod of length 1.5 m is placed over a wedge at 0.5 m from one of its edges. A force F
of 100 N is applied at one of its ends near the wedge to keep it horizontal. Find the weight (W)
of the rod and the reaction (R) at the wedge.

Applying the first condition for equilibrium:

Resultant of all the forces acting on the rod = 0.

Therefore

The weight (W) produces a CM about the wedge given by:

The force F = 100 N produces an anticlockwise moment about the wedge given by:

N.B. The reaction R at the wedge produces no moment about the wedge.

Applying the second condition for equilibrium:

Substituting the value of W into (1) gives:

TRY THESE!!
Question 01
The beam shown in the figure is 2.0 m long and has a weight of 20 N. It is pivoted as shown. Two
forces of 20 N and 10 N are acting on it as shown in the figure. What force F must be applied
downwards at the other end to balance the beam?

Question 02
The system below is in equilibrium. Find the unknown weight (W)

Question 03
A uniform meter rule pivoted at its centre is balanced by a force of 4.8N at 20cm mark and some other
two forces, F and 2.0N on the 66cm and 90cm marks respectively. Calculate the force F.
Question 04

A beam is placed evenly on a pivot point (fulcrum). On one side a 10 N weight is placed 2 m from
the pivot and a 40 N weight a further 4 m from the pivot. How far from the pivot must an 80 N
weight be placed to perfectly balance the beam horizontally?

Question 05

In the figure given below, a uniform beam of negligible weight is pivoted at O. The distances and forces are
given as d1 = 1m, d2 = 2m, F1 = 2N. Find the values of R and F2

Question 06

In the figure given below, a uniform beam of negligible weight is pivoted at O. The distances and forces are
given as d1 = 1.5m, d2 = 2m,d3 = 5m F1 = 10N F2 = 5N F3 = 4N. Will the system be in rotational equilibrium? If
not, state the magnitude and direction of a moment needed to achieve equilibrium.
Question 07

The diagram below shows a uniform beam pivoted at its centre which is in equilibrium. Write down two
equations relating the forces and distances shown:

Let L = 100 cm, F1 = 20 N, F3 = 10 N, d1 = 10 cm, d2 = 70 cm, d3 = 45 cm. Find the values of F2 and R such that the beam is
in equilibrium.