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TURNING EFFECTS OF FORCES

MOMENTS
Turning Effects of A Force
- A force is a push or pull.
- The figure below shows a rod with a fixed end (the pivot) which cannot be moved by
applying a force on it but the rest of the body is allowed to move freely in circular motion
about this fixed point.
- When applying a force at different positions to move the rod:
 the nearer towards the pivot, the LARGER is the force needed;
 the further away from the pivot, the SMALLER is the force needed.
- The turning effect of a force about the pivot is called moment (or torque).
- We can measure MOMENT OF A FORCE if we know:
 The magnitude of the force applied and
 The perpendicular distance between the line of action of the force and the pivot.

The moment of a force about a pivot is the product of the force and the
Definition perpendicular distance of its line of action from the pivot.

- Hence, moment of a force = force x perpendicular distance of the line of action of the
force from the pivot
Where
Equation Moment of a force = F x d F: force (in N)
d: perpendicular distance from pivot (in m)
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- SI unit of moment of a force: newton metre (Nm)

N:B If the line of action of the force passes through the pivot, there is no turning effect
produced. It is because there is no distance between the force and the pivot. For
instance, we cannot open the door if we apply the force on the hinge.

[Q1] Why is it better to use a long spanner rather than a short one to tighten a nut on a
bolt?
A Less force needs to be exerted by the user.
B Less friction is present.
C Less turning effect is required on the spanner.
D Less work is done by the user.
[Ans] A Longer spanner (longer distance) requires a smaller force to produce the
same amount of moment to tighten the nut.
Moment is constant. If the distance is increased, less force is needed.

[Q2] A door required a minimum moment of 32.5 Nm in order to open it. What is the
minimum distance of the handle from the hinges, if the door is to be pulled open with a
force at the handle not greater than 50N?

A 0.33 m
B 0.65 m
C 0.77 m
D 1.54 m
[Ans] B moment = Force x perpendicular distance
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32.5
Minimum distance = = 0.65 m
50
For calculation, you should use 50 N as the greatest applied force to find the minimum
distance. Moment is a constant for this case, hence the greatest force will lead to a
minimum distance.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLES OF MOMENTS
1. Opening a door by pushing the door knob.

2. Turning a nut with a wrench.

3. Riding a bicycle
In case of a bicycle, the force on the pedal produces a turning effect which keeps the
wheels moving.
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4. Levering bottle cap

The metal cap of a bottle of drink is levered off by a turning effect.

5. A pair of scissors or garden shears in use.

6. A screwdriver being used to tighten/loosen a screw.
7. A wheelbarrow being used to lift some load.
8. A wheel cart being used to lift heavy loads.
9. Children playing on a “see-saw”.
10. Many machines in industry, such as printing presses and lathes, are kept in motion
by the turning effects of forces.

Exercise 1
1. A student applies a force of 10N to the handle of a door which is 0.8 m from the
hinges of the door as shown below. Calculate the moment of the force.
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2. Calculate the moment of the force about the fulcrum when a pet dog of mass 10
kg distance is at a distance of 1.2 m from the fulcrum of the seesaw as shown
below.

3. An object of mass 5.5 kg is hang at the 30 cm mark of a meter rule pivoted at its
centre. Find the moment due to the object.
4. Calculate the moment of the following force.
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PRINCIPLES OF MOMENTS IN EQUILIBRIUM

- The moment of a force is a vector quantity. It has both magnitude and direction.
- The direction of the moment can be either clockwise or anticlockwise.

Principle of For a body to be in equilibrium, the sum of clockwise moments about a pivot
moments is equal to the sum of anti-clockwise moments about the same pivot.

- In the example below, one thin boy and one fat boy are sitting on a see-saw.
- To be in EQUILIBRIUM, the fat boy needs to shift himself closer to the pivot until the
clockwise moment is the same as the anticlockwise moment.
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- When the sum of clockwise moments is equal to the sum of anticlockwise moments, we
say the resultant moment is zero.
e.g. 1

Total clockwise moment = W x b

Total anticlockwise moment = F x a
If the rod is in equilibrium, F x a = W x b
e.g. 2

Total clockwise moment = W 1 x c + W 2 x b

Total anti-clockwise moment = F x a
If the rod is in equilibrium, F x a = W 1 x c + W 2 x b

Conditions for a body to be in equilibrium:

1. To be in equilibrium, the Principle of Moments must apply. (Resultant moment is
zero)
2. For a body at rest to remain at the same state, the sum of the forces in one direction
is equal to the sum of the forces in the opposite direction. (Resultant force is zero).
N.B: If the sum of clockwise moments is equal to the sum of anti-clockwise moments
produced by a set of forces, there will be no turning effect.
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[Q3] The diagram shows a metre rule pivoted off-centre but kept in equilibrium by a suspended
mass 240g.

The centre of mass of the rule is at the 50 cm mark. What is the mass of the rule?
A 12 g B 24 g C 45 g D 120 g

[Ans] D Taking moment about the pivot,

Mass of the rule x (50- 20) = 240 x (20 -5)

Mass = 120 g.

N.B: The moment produced by the mass 240 g is equal to the moment produced by the mass of
the rule when it is kept in equilibrium. This is principle of moment.

[Q4] The diagram shows a light rod with two weights hanging from it.

A third weight is added to bring the system into equilibrium so that the rod is balanced. What is
required and where should it be placed?

Weight Position
A 1N 2 m to the left of the pivot
B 1N 3 m to the right of the pivot
C 2N 1 m to the left of the pivot
D 2N 1 m to the right of the pivot
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Exercise 2

1. A uniform metre rule is pivoted at G, and 3 masses a placed at A, B and C as shown

below. Find the value for the weight W of the mass M placed at C so that the metre rule
is balanced horizontally.

2. John, Joyce and Janet are seated on a see-saw as shown below. Where should John
whose mass is 60 kg sit so that the see-saw is balanced horizontally if the masses of
Joyce and Janet are 50 kg and 20 kg respectively?

3. Mutende and Mayaba are seated at 3 m and 2 m respectively from the centre of a see-
saw on one side and Victor at 4 m from the centre on the other side. The see-saw is
balanced horizontally. Find the weight of Victor, if the masses of Mutende and Mayaba
are 40 kg and 30 kg respectively.
4. A uniform metre is balanced horizontally at its centre. When a mass of 5 g is suspended
at the 4 cm mark, the rule balances horizontally if a mass M is suspended at 60 cm
mark. Calculate M.