OCR (A) specifications: 5.1.

4a,b,c,d,e,f,g

Chapter 5
Forces, moments and pressure
Worksheet
Worked examples
Practical: Using the principle of moments to determine
the mass of a clamp stand
End-of-chapter test
Marking scheme: Worksheet
Marking scheme: End-of-chapter test

Worksheet
acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s2

Intermediate level
1
2
3

Define the moment of a force.

[1]

State two conditions that must be met for the equilibrium of an extended object.

[2]

The diagram shows the downward forces applied on a plastic ruler.

10 cm
cm
10

15
cm
15 cm

pivot
pivot
1.2 N
N
1.2

0.40
N
0.40 N

Explain whether or not the ruler is in equilibrium.

5
6

[3]

A person of weight 820 N stands on one leg. The area of the foot in contact
with the floor is 1.4 102 m2.
a

Calculate the pressure exerted by the foot on the ground.

[2]

Explain what would happen to the pressure exerted on the floor if the
person stands on tiptoe on one leg.

[1]

Define torque of a couple and give one example of a couple.

[2]

The diagram shows a uniform beam of length 1.5 m and weight 60 N resting
horizontally on two supports.
RB

RA
1.5 m

60 N

a
b

By taking moments about the support A, determine the force RB at

the support B.

[3]

Use your answer to a to calculate the force RA at support A.

[1]

Higher level
7

A ladder of 32 kg rests at an angle against a smooth wall.

a

Determine the force R exerted by the wall on

the ladder by taking moments about the base
of the ladder.

[3]

Explain why the force at the base of the ladder was

not included when doing the calculation in a.

[1]

4.0 m

ladder

weight

1.5 m

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5 Forces, moments and pressure

8 A 62 kg person lies flat on a uniform plank of mass 15 kg. The plank, with the
person lying on it, is placed on a brick and some bathroom scales, as shown in the
diagram below.
1.56 m

brick

scales

For the person, the toe-to-head distance is 1.56 m. The length of the plank is
also 1.56 m.
a

On the diagram above, show all the forces acting on the plank.

[2]

The reading on the bathroom scales is 30 kg. Use this information to

determine how far the centre of gravity of the person is from the toes.

[4]

9 A flagpole of mass 25 kg is held in a horizontal

position by a cable as shown in the diagram.
The centre of gravity of the flagpole is at a distance
of 1.5 m from the fixed end. Determine:
a

the tension T in the cable;

the vertical component of the force at the

fixed end of the pole.

T
cable

[4]
flagpole

30

[2]

1.5 m

weight
2.5 m

Extension

80 cm

10 The diagram shows a wheel of mass 20 kg and radius

F

80 cm pulled by a horizontal force F against a step of

height 20 cm.

20 cm

step

Determine the magnitude of the initial force

F so that the wheel just turns over the step.

[4]

weight

11 A metal rod of length 90 cm has a disc

90 cm

of radius 24 cm fixed at its centre as

shown in the diagram.
Two forces, each of magnitude 30 N, are
applied normal to the rod at each end
so they produce a turning effect on the
rod. A rope is attached to the edge of
the disc to prevent rotation. Calculate
the minimum tension T in the rope.

30 N
24 cm
T

[4]

30 N
rope

Total: Score:
39

5 Forces, moments and pressure

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Worked examples
Example 1
A blunt nail placed on a piece of wood is hit with a hammer with a force of 120 N. The
radius of the nail in contact with the wood is 1.5 mm. Calculate the pressure exerted by
the nail on the wood.
P=

F
A

P=

F
120
=
r 2 (1.5 103)2

In order to determine the pressure in pascals,

the area of the nail must be in m 2.

P 1.7 107 Pa (17 MPa)

Example 2
A hinge is secured to one end of a uniform plank. A 5.0 N weight is hung from the plank
as shown in the diagram. A string attached to the other end of the plank is pulled so
that the plank is in equilibrium in the horizontal position. The tension T in the string
is 7.5 N. Determine the weight W of the plank.
smooth pulley

100 cm

T
hinge

60 cm

20 cm

5.0 N
7.5 N

By taking moments about the hinge and applying the principle of moments, we have:
sum of clockwise moments = sum of anticlockwise moments
(W 60) + (5.0 100) = 7.5 120
60W = 900 500
W=

The centre of gravity of the wood

is 60 cm from one end.

400
6.7 N
60

Tip
The force at the hinge creates zero moment about the hinge (since its distance
from this pivot is zero). Hence, the force at the hinge does not appear in the
equation above; this is why we chose to take the moments about this pivot.

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5 Forces, moments and pressure

Practical
Using the principle of moments to determine the mass
of a clamp stand
Safety
There are not likely to be any major hazards in carrying out this experiment. However,
teachers and technicians should always refer to the departmental risk assessment before
carrying out any practical work.

Apparatus
clamp stand

1.0 N weight hanger

metal rod

string

G clamp

Introduction
You can adapt this experiment to determine the mass of any object. In this experiment,
you will determine the mass of a clamp stand.

Procedure
The principle of moments is described on
page 53 of Physics 1. This experiment also
requires knowledge of centre of gravity.

clamp stand

Secure the metal rod in a horizontal

position using a G clamp.

Place the clamp stand on the metal

rod. Adjust the position of the clamp
centre of
gravity of
stand along the rod so that it is
clamp stand
balanced in a horizontal position.
Use a pen to make a mark (C) on the
clamp stand at the point where it
balances. The centre of gravity of the clamp
stand must lie vertically below this mark.

metal rod
x

1.0 N

Now place the 1.0 N weight hanger near to the top end of the clamp stand. Place
the clamp stand on the rod and once again adjust the position of the clamp stand
until it is balanced in a horizontal position, as in the diagram.

4
5

Measure the distances x and y as indicated on the diagram.

Determine the weight W of the clamp stand. According to the principle of
moments, we have:
clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment
1.0 y = Wx
y
W =x N

W
Determine the mass M of the clamp stand using: M = g
How does the mass of the clamp stand compare with its actual value?
What are the main sources of inaccuracy in this experiment?

rubber bung
sand

Guidance for teachers

This experiment may be used to determine the mass
of a metre rule. However, it is more exciting to use
objects that are not uniform. In trials, determining
the weight of a 50cm long copper pipe filled with
sand along one-third of its length raised a few eyebrows.
5 Forces, moments and pressure

copper pipe

taped end
Cambridge University Press 2005

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End-of-chapter test
P

Answer all questions.

acceleration of free fall g = 9.81 m s2

Define the centre of gravity of an object.

[1]

The diagram shows a hammer that is free to rotate about

the point P.
The hammer is held in the position shown in the diagram.
When it is released, the hammer starts to rotate. The weight of
the hammer is 6.8 N. Calculate the moment of the weight of
the hammer about P.

The diagram shows the forces acting on a disc of

radius 7.0 cm.
a

Calculate the torque of the couple acting

on the disc.

15 cm

[2]

weight

0.40 N
7.0 cm

[2]

0.40N

Explain how the disc can be prevented

from rotating.

[1]

The diagram below shows a uniform plank of length 120 cm and of mass 5.8 kg
in equilibrium.
cable

60 cm

T
20 cm
pivot

plank

20 cm
30 N

weight

What is the net force acting on the plank?

[1]

What is the net moment about one end of the plank?

[1]

Calculate the tension T in the cable.

[4]

Explain how your answer to c would change if the cable exerted a force at
an angle to the plank.

[2]

A bicycle of mass 35kg is resting on its two tyres on flat ground. The pressure at the
base of each tyre is 1.5 105 Pa. Calculate the area of each tyre in contact with the
ground. You may assume that each tyre supports half the weight of the bicycle.
[4]

The diagram shows the forces acting on a log of

wood of weight 920 N.
Use the information given in the diagram
to determine the tension T in the rope.

[3]

rope

90

6.0 m

2m

weight

Total: Score: %
21
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Cambridge University Press 2005

5 Forces, moments and pressure

Marking scheme
Worksheet
1

Moment = force perpendicular distance from the pivot to the line of action of
the force [1]

The net force acting on the object is zero. [1]

The sum of the clockwise moments about any point is equal to the sum of the
anticlockwise moments about the same point. [1]

Anticlockwise moment about the pivot = 1.2 10 = 12 N cm [1]

Clockwise moment about the pivot = 0.40 15 = 6.0 N cm [1]
The ruler is not in equilibrium because the anticlockwise moment is greater than
the clockwise moment. (It will rotate in an anticlockwise direction.) [1]

P=

F
820
=
[1]
A 1.4 102

P 5.9 104 Pa [1]

b

The area A decreases, therefore the pressure exerted on the floor will
increase. [1]

Torque of a couple = Fd, where F is one of the forces and d is the perpendicular
distance between the lines of action of the forces. [1]
Any suitable example (e.g. twisting the lid off a jar). [1]

The centre of gravity of the beam is 0.75 m away from support A.

sum of clockwise moments = sum of anticlockwise moments

[1]

60 0.75 = RB 1.5 [1]; RB = 30 N [1]

b

Net force in the vertical direction = 0

RA + RB = 60; RA = 60 30 = 30 N [1]

The line of action of the weight of the ladder is at a perpendicular distance of

0.75 m away from the foot of the ladder.
Taking moments about the base of the ladder
sum of clockwise moments = sum of anticlockwise moments [1]
(32 9.81) 0.75 = R 4.0 [1]
R=

32 9.81 0.75
59 N [1]
4.0

The force at the foot of the ladder creates zero moment about this point. [1]

contact
force

contact
force
x

0.78 m

All forces clearly shown

on the diagram. [2]

weight of
person
weight of plank

5 Forces, moments and pressure

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Taking moments about the brick

sum of clockwise moments = sum of anticlockwise moments
(62 9.81)x + [(15 9.81) 0.78] = (30 9.81) 1.56 [2]
x=

(1.56 30) (0.78 15)

[1]
62

x 0.57 m
Distance of centre of gravity from the toes = 1.56 0.57 = 0.99 m

[1]

9 a Taking moments about the fixed end of the flagpole

sum of clockwise moments = sum of anticlockwise moments
(25 9.81) 1.5 = Tx [1]
where x = perpendicular distance of the line of action of the tension from the
fixed end of the flagpole, given by
x = 2.5 sin 30 = 1.25 m [1]
(25 9.81) 1.5 = T 1.25 [1]
T=
b

25 9.81 1.5
= 294 290 N [1]
1.25

The net vertical force = 0

vertical component of force at fixed end + vertical component of T = weight
vertical component of force at fixed end + 294 sin 30 = 25 9.81 [1]
vertical component of force 98 N [1]

10

80 cm

60 cm

F
pivot

Note: The weight of the wheel provides

an anticlockwise moment about the
edge of the step. The force F must
provide a clockwise moment to equal
this if the wheel is to move.

20 cm

weight

Taking moments about the edge of the step

sum of clockwise moments = sum of anticlockwise moments
F (80 20) = (20 9.81)x [1]
x = 802 602 53 cm [1]
F=

20 9.81 53
[1]
60

F 170 N [1]

11 Torque of the couple about the centre = 30 90 = 2700 N cm [1]

moment of force about the centre = (T 24) N cm [1]
For equilibrium
24T = 2700 [1]
T = 113 N 110 N [1]

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5 Forces, moments and pressure

Marking scheme
End-of-chapter test
1

The centre of gravity is the point where the entire weight of the object appears
to act. [1]

Moment = force perpendicular distance from P.

moment = 6.8 0.15 [1];

moment = 1.02 N m (clockwise) [1]

Torque of the couple = force separation between the two forces

torque = 0.40 (0.07 2) [1]; torque = 5.6 102 N m (clockwise) [1]

To prevent rotation and have equilibrium, a torque of 5.6 102 N m must be

applied to the disc in the anticlockwise direction. [1]

The net force = 0 [1]

The net moment = 0 [1]

Weight of plank = 5.8 9.81 57 N [1]

Taking moments about the pivot
sum of clockwise moments = sum of anticlockwise moments [1]
(30 20) + (57 60) = 100T [1];

T 40 N [1]

The tension would increase. [1] This is because the perpendicular distance of
the line of action of the tension from the pivot is less than 100 cm. [1]

Force due to tyre pressure = mg = 35 9.81 [1]

P=

F
A

A=

35 9.81
[1]
1.5 105 2

so

A=

F
[1]
P

A = 1.14 103 m2 1.1 103 m2 [1]

Taking moments about the point of contact with the ground

sum of clockwise moments = sum of anticlockwise moments [1]
920 2.0 = T 6.0 [1];

5 Forces, moments and pressure

T 310N [1]

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