MOMENTS

What is moments?
A force can cause many things to move or
stop. When a force causes an object to turn,
this turning effect is called moments.
Example: A person sitting on a see-saw.
 Types Of Moments

There are 2 types moments:

Clockwise moment

Anticlockwise moment
 Everyday Examples

1. turning a door knob

2. opening a door

3. scissors

4. turning a steering wheel

5. crane at the construction sites lifting objects

6. electrical fan
 Everyday Examples

7. spanner & nut

 Everyday Examples

7. 8. Wheelbarrow
 Activity

Stand up and support your bag with your wrist.

Straighten your hand. Lift it up slowly until it is

perpendicular to your body.
Is it easy to do that?

Hang the bag at your elbow and repeat the motion.

How do you feel now? How do you think the

distance between the pivot and the force affect the
moments?
 Activity

Stand up and support your bag with your wrist.

Straighten your hand. Lift it up slowly until it is

perpendicular to your body.
Ask your partner to remove some books from your
bag.
How do you feel as the books are removed?

What does it tell you about the relationship

between force and moments?
 What does the turning effect
of a force depend on?

1. force
2. perpendicular distance between force and
pivot
 Your turn!

Try out the question in the notes on how you should

hang your clothes on a bamboo.
 Turning Effect of a Force

Note: turning effect = moment = torque

The moment of a force is its turning effect

about a pivot
 Turning Effect of a Force

Moments is the product of the force and the

perpendicular distance from the pivot to the line
of action of the force.

d
 CALCULATING MOMENTS

Moment = force perpendicular distance between force

and pivot

In symbols: Moments = F d

Unit for moments: Newton-metre (Nm)

Weight => F
 Worked Example 1
Example 1:
A cat of weight 20N stands on one end of a see-saw and the distance
between the cat and the pivot is 3m, find the moment.
Solution: In this case the cat is causing a clockwise moment.
Clockwise moment =Fxd
= 20 x 3
= 60 Nm

d = 3m

F = 20N
 Worked Example 2
Example 2:
A duck stands on one end of a see-saw, 5m away from the pivot.
If the weight of the duck is 10N, find the moment.
Solution: The ducks weight is causing an anticlockwise moment.
Anticlockwise moment =Fxd
= 10 x 5
= 50 Nm

d = 5m

F = 10N
 Your turn!

Try out the questions in the notes to find the

moments caused by the force
 It is easy to balance two objects of
the same weight

Anticlockwi Anti-
Anticlockwise Clockwise
clockwise
se moment
moment moment
moment
Is it possible to balance a objects of
different weight?
 Principle of Moments

For an object to be in equilibrium(stable/not

moving), the total clockwise moment must be
equal to the anticlockwise moment about the
same pivot.

weight weight
pivot
It is the fixed(non moving) point
 SOLVING PROBLEMS RELATED TO
PRINCIPLE OF MOMENTS

Step 1:
Identify what are the forces that will give rise to
clockwise / anticlockwise moment
Step 2:
Find the clockwise / anticlockwise moment

Step 3:
Equate the clockwise and anticlockwise
moments
 Worked Example 3

6m d

30N
10N
Find the value of d.

Step 1:
Identify what are the forces that
will give rise to clockwise /
anticlockwise moment
 Worked Example 3

6m d
Anticlockwise Clockwise
moment moment
30
10
N
N

Find the value of d.

Step 2:
Find the clockwise /
anticlockwise moment
 Worked Example 3

6m d
Anticlockwis Clockwise
e moment moment
30
10
N
N
Find the value of d.

Solution:

Clockwise moment = Force x distance between force and pivot
= 30 x d
= 30d Nm


Anticlockwise moment = Force x distance between force and pivot
= 10 x 6
= 60 Nm
Step 3:
Equate the clockwise and
anticlockwise moments
 Worked Example 3

6m d
Anticlockwis Clockwise
e moment moment
30
10
N
N
Find the value of d.

Solution:

Clockwise moment = Force x distance between force and
pivot
= 30 x d
= 30d Nm

Anticlockwise moment = Force x distance between force and
pivot
= 10 x 6
= 60 Nm

Using the principle of moments,

Clockwise moment = Anti-clockwise moment
30d = 60
d = 60 30
d =2m
 Points to note:

1.The unit for force must be in

Newtons, the unit for
distance must be in metres.
2.The distance must measured
perpendicularly from the
force to the pivot.
 Worked Example 4

The figure shows a uniform rod of length 4 m

and weight 50N. It is pivoted at Q. A boy tries to
lift up the rod vertically from the end P. What is
the magnitude of the force when P is just lifted ?
Force, F
4m
Q P
rod
50 N
 Worked Example 4

The figure shows a uniform rod of length 4 m

and weight 50N. It is pivoted at Q. A boy tries to
lift up the rod vertically from the end P. What is
the magnitude of the force when P is just lifted ?
Force, F
4m
Solution
Q P
rod
50 N

When the body is in equilibrium,

F x 4m = 50N x 2m F = 25 N
 Worked Example 5

The light ruler in the figure shown below is

balanced. Calculate
(a) the value of W
(b) the normal reaction at the pivot P.
20cm 15 cm 25 cm

P
W 4N 1N
 Worked Example 5

The light ruler in the figure shown below is balanced. Calculate

(a) the value of W
(b) the normal reaction at the pivot P.
20cm 15 cm 25 cm

P
W 4N 1N
Solution
(a) When the body is in equilibrium,

(Wx20cm) = (4Nx15cm) + (1Nx40cm)

therefore W = 5N
(b) Normal reaction at P = (5 + 4 + 1) = 10 N
 Your turn!

Try out the question in the notes on principle of

moments