2020 Sec 3 Physics Chapter 4 Turning Effect of Forces

Answers to Examples and Exercises

4.1 Moment of a force (torque)

Example 4.1.1
(a) The rule has a very small mass and this can be ignored in the calculation.
Other terms: negligible mass or zero mass.

(b) Moments of F about the pivot = 20 N x (50.0 – 30.0) cm = 400 N cm.

Direction is anticlockwise.

Exercises 4.1
1. When the line of action of the force passes through the pivot.

2. (a) Moment = 6 Nm, Direction = anticlockwise

(b) Moment = 6 Nm, Direction = clockwise
(c) Moment = 6 Nm, Direction = anticlockwise
(d) Moment = 0, Direction = N/A (no turning effect)

3. (a) All parts of the ruler are similar. The CG of the rule is at its centre and as such, the
weight of the ruler acts right through the centre.

b) (i) Resultant Moment = 30 Nm, Resultant motion: Rotates anticlockwise

(ii) Resultant Moment = 0 Nm, Resultant motion: remains at rest.
(iii) Resultant Moment = 0 Nm, Resultant motion: remains at rest.
(iv) Resultant Moment = 32.5 Nm, Resultant motion: Rotates anticlockwise
(v) Resultant Moment = 20 Nm, Resultant motion: Rotates anticlockwise
(vi) Resultant Moment = 0.5 Nm, Resultant motion: Rotates anticlockwise

d
4 (a) d F (b) P
x
x P

(c) (d)
P d
F d F
xP P
x x

(e) F (f)
F
d
d
x
P x
S3 N04 Turning Effect of Forces 2020 - Ans P 1
4.2 Principle of Moments

Example 4.2.1
(a) For a balanced system, clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment about the pivot.
W x (90.0 – 50.0) cm = 24 N x (50.0 – 14.0) cm
W = 21.6 N = 22 N (2 sf)

(b) As the rule is uniform, its CG is at its centre. Thus the line of action of the weight
passes through the pivot resulting in zero moment.

(c) The rule would rotate anticlockwise about the pivot. The anticlockwise moment caused
by the 40 N mass is larger than the clockwise moment caused by W.

Example 4.2.2
Normal contact force
(a)
5.0 cm 50.0 cm
A
P Q

Contact force due to 20.0 cm

weight = 0.60 N
Weight of rule, W

(b) System at equilibrium: apply principle of moments.

Taking moments about A,
clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment about A
W x (50.0 – 20.0) cm = [(60  1000) x 10] N x (20.0 – 5.0) cm
W = 0.30 N  Mass of rule = W ÷ 10 = 0.030 kg = 30 g

Example 4.2.3 normal contact force

(or force on rod by wedge)
(a) B

P F
A
normal contact force
(or force on rod by boulder)

(b) Taking moments about P, at equilibrium, N x d1 = F x d2

F = (N x d1 ) / d2, assuming N is the same.
If P is moved nearer towards B, distance d2 would decrease, and d1 would increase.
so F must increase.
Similarly, if P is moved nearer towards A, so F would decrease.
B
P
F
A
d2
N d1

S3 N04 Turning Effect of Forces 2020 - Ans 2

Example 4.2.4

(a) FL
FE

(b) Consider forces on each tong (free-body diagram),

Taking moments about the pivot: FE x 4.0 = FL x 10.0
FE = 2.5 FL or FL = 0.40 FE

(c) The distance is less than 4.0 cm. Assuming the same force FE is exerted on the handle,
FL < 0.40 FE, the force on the load would be smaller.

Exercises 4.2
Normal contact force Normal contact force
1. (a) at P, FP at Q, FQ
painter

A P Q B
plank
Weight of plank,
Wp = 200 N
(b) FP= 640 N,
(c) FQ = 210 N Contact force due
to weight of painter,
(d) 1.4 m from A, Wp = 650 N
Normal contact
2. (a) 20
force, Fp
N
1.00 m

G
(b) (i) 30 N m clockwise
(ii) m = 6.0 kg
1.50 m P

4.3 Centre of Gravity and Stability Weight = mg

Example 4.3.1

(a) (i) (ii) (iii)

S3 N04 Turning Effect of Forces 2020 - Ans 3

(b) (i) (ii) (iii)

Example 4.3.2
(a) X = stable equilibrium; Y = unstable equilibrium; Z = neutral equilibrium

(b) The C.G. of object X is on the left of the pivot. Therefore the weight, which acts from
the C.G., creates an anticlockwise moment about the pivot. The object rotates
anticlockwise back to its original position.

(c) The C.G. of object Y shifts to the right of the pivot. Therefore the weight, which acts
from the C.G., creates a clockwise moment about the pivot. The object rotates
clockwise and topples over.

Exercises 4.3

1. (a) Minimum initial force by Mike

Fm (1.50) = 500 (0.55); Fm = 183.3 N = 183 N (3 s.f.)
Minimum initial force by Pete
Fp (1.20) = 500 (0.55); Fp = 229.2 N = 229 N (3 s.f.)

(b) Mike applied the force at a position where its perpendicular distance from the line of
action of the force to the pivot is greater. Thus, less force will be needed.

(c) The C.G. of the block is to the right of the pivot at its base. Its weight would produce
a clockwise moment and cause it to topple to towards the right.

2. (a) (i) (ii)

weight X

weight X C.G C.G.

. weight Y
weight Y
S S S

(iii) The C.G. shifts to the left of the pivot. The weight creates an anticlockwise
moment about the pivot. Therefore, the toy rotates anticlockwise and returns
to its original position.

S3 N04 Turning Effect of Forces 2020 - Ans 4

 (b) The C.G. shifts to the right side of the
pivot. The line of action of the weight lies
outside the base and the weight creates
a clockwise moment about the pivot, Weight X
causing the toy to rotate clockwise and
topple over.

Weight Y
S

Note:
• The base is a point.
• The main difference between this and the earlier part is that the position of
C.G. here is ABOVE the level of the pivot while the earlier part the C.G. is
BELOW the level of the pivot. This is what results in the toy having stable
equilibrium earlier and unstable equilibrium here.

3.

(a) Taking moments about P,

Sum of CW moments = Sum of ACW moments
F (0.20) = 20 (d)

To find distance, d, using Pythagoras Theorem,

d = sqrt (0.502 - 0.202); d = 0.4583 m

20 N × 0.4583 m
Therefore, min. F = = 45.8 N
0.20 m

(b) In order to exert less force to produce the same moment to overcome the weight,
the perpendicular distance from the line of action of the force to the pivot must
increase. The minimum force required is when the distance is the maximum.

S3 N04 Turning Effect of Forces 2020 - Ans 5

Enrichment (Angle of tilt)

Example 1
(a)
A B C D
E

hollow plastic solid plastic solid lead hollow plastic hollow plastic
with lead lying on its side
base
(i) D (ii) A, B, C

(iii) Hardest to topple is C.

The weight of C is the largest and thus it creates the greatest moment about the
pivot. Therefore, the toppling force to overcome this moment is the largest.

16.0 cm
Example 2

Let x be the maximum angle of tilt. 30.0 cm

tan x = 8.0 / 15.0

x = tan-1 (0.533) = 28o

S3 N04 Turning Effect of Forces 2020 - Ans 6