TURNING

EFFECT OF
FORCES
MOMENTS
Lesson Objectives
Identify what are the forces that will give rise
to clockwise / anticlockwise moments

Calculate clockwise / anticlockwise moments

Use the principle of moments to solve
problems.
MOMENT
DEFINITION
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.
MOMENTS

A force can cause many things to move or stop.
When a force causes an object to turn, this turning
effect is called moment.
Example: A person sitting on a see-saw.
There are 2 types of
moments:
Clockwise moment


Anticlockwise moment
There are 2 types of
moments:
Clockwise moment


Anticlockwise moment
Clockwise Moment
When a force causes an object to turn in a clockwise
direction, it is called a CLOCKWISE MOMENT.
To determine if the force causes a clockwise or
anticlockwise moment, we have to ignore all other forces
acting on the object.
When the girl sits on the see-saw, her weight is the force
exerted on the see-saw.
weight
Clockwise Moment
When a force causes an object to turn in a clockwise
direction, it is called a CLOCKWISE MOMENT.
To determine if the force causes a clockwise or
anticlockwise moment, we have to ignore all other forces
acting on the object.
When the girl sits on the see-saw, her weight is the force
exerted on the see-saw.
weight
ANTI-Clockwise Moment
When a force causes an object to turn in an anti-clockwise
direction, it is called a ANTI-CLOCKWISE MOMENT.
To determine if the force causes a clockwise or
anticlockwise moment, we have to ignore all other forces
acting on the object.
When the girl sits on the see-saw, her weight is the force
exerted on the see-saw.
weight
ANTI-Clockwise Moment
When a force causes an object to turn in an anti-clockwise
direction, it is called an ANTI-CLOCKWISE MOMENT.
To determine if the force causes a clockwise or
anticlockwise moment, we have to ignore all other forces
acting on the object.
When the girl sits on the see-saw, her weight is the force
exerted on the see-saw.
weight
CALCULATING MOMENTS
Moment = force perpendicular distance between force
and pivot
In symbols: Moments = F d
Weight => F
d
Unit for moments: Newton-metre (Nm)
F = 20N
d = 3m
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 = F x d
= 20 x 3
= 60 Nm
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 = F x d
= 10 x 5
= 50 Nm

F = 10N
d = 5m
Examples
which is the distance?
Where is the force & pivot?
F
F
d
d
d
F
F
d
F
weight
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 point.
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

10N
30N
6m d
Find the value of d.

WORKED EXAMPLE
Step 1:
Identify what are the forces that will
give rise to clockwise / anticlockwise
moment
10N
30N
6m d
Find the value of d.

WORKED EXAMPLE
Anticlockwise
moment
Clockwise
moment
Step 2:
Find the clockwise / anticlockwise
moment
10N
30N
6m d

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


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

Find the value of d.

Solution:
Step 3:
Equate the clockwise and anticlockwise
moments
10N
30N
6m d
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 = 2 m

WORKED EXAMPLE
Anticlockwise
moment
Clockwise
moment
Points to note:
1. The unit for force must be in
Newtons, the unit for distance
must be in metres.
2. The distance must be measured
from the force to the pivot.
In Conclusion . . .
Let us look at examples A & B on page 54
Discussion questions: Page 55 #1-3
Home work: Study page 55 (conditions for
equilibrium) then answer question 4.