Introduction to

Engineering
Mechanics
Dr. Wayne Whiteman
Director of the Office of Student Services
and Senior Academic Professional
School of Mechanical Engineering

This course is an introduction to learning and applying the

principles required to solve engineering mechanics problems.

School of Mechanical Engineering

 Module 11 Learning Outcome

 Calculate the moment of a force about a

line/axis

2
Moment of a Force about a Line/Axis
M line/ axis   r  F   uˆ  uˆ

Used with permission from “Engineering

Mechanics: Statics,” McGill/King, 4th Ed, 2003
3
 Moment of a Force about a Line/Axis
EXAMPLE: The chain in the figure below carries 20 lb of tension
as it holds open the trap door. Find the moment of the chain
force exerted at A, about the x-axis.

M line/ axis  r  F  uˆ  uˆ

Used with permission from “Engineering

Mechanics: Statics,” McGill/King, 4th Ed, 2003
4
 Moment of a Force about a Line/Axis
EXAMPLE: The chain in the figure below carries 20 lb of tension
as it holds open the trap door. Find the moment of the chain
force exerted at A, about the x-axis.

Using what you learned in

Module 4, express the 3D
force in vector form exerted M line/ axis  r  F  uˆ  uˆ

by the chain at point A.

Used with permission from “Engineering

Mechanics: Statics,” McGill/King, 4th Ed, 2003
5
 Moment of a Force about a Line/Axis
EXAMPLE: The chain in the figure below carries 20 lb of tension
as it holds open the trap door. Find the moment of the chain
force exerted at A, about the x-axis.
F  8.82iˆ  3.31 ˆj  17.6kˆ lb
F

M line/ axis  r  F  uˆ  uˆ

Used with permission from “Engineering

Mechanics: Statics,” McGill/King, 4th Ed, 2003
6
 Moment of a Force about a Line/Axis
EXAMPLE: The chain in the figure below carries 20 lb of tension
as it holds open the trap door. Find the moment of the chain
force exerted at A, about the x-axis.
F  8.82iˆ  3.31 ˆj  17.6kˆ lb
F M xaxis  rOA  F   uˆ  uˆ
Where we chose
r  4iˆ  3 ˆj ft
M line/ axis  r  F  uˆ  uˆ

Used with permission from “Engineering

Mechanics: Statics,” McGill/King, 4th Ed, 2003
7
 Moment of a Force about a Line/Axis
EXAMPLE: The chain in the figure below carries 20 lb of tension
as it holds open the trap door. Find the moment of the chain
force exerted at A, about the x-axis.
F  8.82iˆ  3.31 ˆj  17.6kˆ lb
M x axis  rOA  F   uˆ  uˆ
F
r  4iˆ  3 ˆj ft uˆ  iˆ
M line/ axis  r  F  uˆ  uˆ

Used with permission from “Engineering

Mechanics: Statics,” McGill/King, 4th Ed, 2003
8