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3 Moment of Force about a Point

Definition: , where is a position vector from point
� to any point on the line of action of force (sliding vector).

Physical meaning: Measure of rotational tendency of with

respect to � .

Units: S.I. – N * m, U.S.C.S. – lb * f

Question:
Where the moment points out?

Varignon’s theorem – moments are distributive

The moment about a given point O of the resultant of several
concurrent forces is equal to the sum of the moments of the
various forces about the same point O.

2D Moments
Moment of plane force about a
point in the same plane always
points out-of-plane. It can,
therefore, be considered a
scalar.
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Since for any and , :

Sign convention: counter clock-wise is positive (out of the paper

plane), clock-wise is negative (into the paper plane).

Computation of 2D Moments

1st method: Use scalar definition , by finding d and

F=

2nd method: Resolve into components and use Varignon’s

theorem.

Note 1: components don’t have to be rectangular (but should

add-up to be equal to the original vector).
Note 2: signs/directions of those moments from components
can be opposite!

3rd method: Use vector definition and perform

multiplication algebraically.

Note: In 2D have zero z-components, while has

only z-component.
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Example 1
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Example

Example 3
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Example 4

Example 5
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Example 6

Example 7
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3D Moments
Unlike 2D moments, in 3D all vectors in can have
all three components simultaneously non-zero.

Computation of 3D moments done almost exclusively by vector

algebra: cross product of and

. Occasionally the second method

(Varignon’s theorem) is used.

Similarly to 2D, the distance from O to line can be computed

using moment formulas:

Moment (3D), Example 1

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Example 2
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Example 3:

Moment about an axis

In some cases rotation a body can be restricted to occur about
an axis. In this case a new useful mechanical quantity can be
derived – moment about an axis.

To compute this moment:

• Compute a moment about any point on the axis,

• Compute a projection of onto the axis.

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Example from the above figure:

1)

2)

Alternatively, find the distance from the line of action to the

axis: 𝒅=𝟎. :

Vector definition:
To find the moment of about an axis 𝒂−𝒂 :
1)Select an arbitrary convenient point � on the axis 𝒂−𝒂
2)Compute moment of about the point �

where � is an arbitrary convenient point on line of action of

3)Compute projection of onto 𝒂−𝒂 :

4) Define the vector

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Note: from the above definitions, we can obtain a physical

meaning of determinant:

Components of moment vector: Mx,

My, Mz are moments of force about
the corresponding axes passing
through O!

Moment about an axis, Example 1

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Example 2:

Example 3:
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