Unit 5: Turning Effect of Forces: Background: Walking The Tightrope PG 82

Unit 5: Turning Effect of Forces
25 September 2018
Background: Walking the tightrope pg 82

Center of Mass (CM) /
Center of Gravity (CG)
 A point at which all the mass of the object is

concentrated.
 a coordinate which represents the average
position of mass.
5.3 Centre of Gravity
Centre of Gravity of some regular shaped objects.
Fig 5.18 Centre of gravity of regular-shaped objects.
Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. 25 September 2018
CoG / CoM of an Irregular
Shape
Centre of Gravity
How to find the centre of gravity of an object?
Fig 5.19 A piece of thin lamina that is suspended at various positions will
come to rest with its weight acting directly downward as indicated by a
plumb line. Where do you think the centre of gravity is?
Centre of Gravity
How to find the centre of gravity of an object?
Fig 5.20. Locating the centre of gravity of a lamina by the plumb line method.
Note that two lines are sufficient. The third line serves as a check.
Centre of Gravity
Experiment 5.2
Fig 5.22
Fig 5.23
Stability
Definition:
Stability refers to the ability of an object to
return to its original position after it has been
tilted slightly.
Stability
Stable Equilibrium
• The centre of gravity rises
and then falls back again.
• The line of action of its
weight W lies inside the
base area of the cone.
• The anticlockwise moment
of its weight W about the
point of contact C cause
the cone to return to its
original position.
Fig 5.27(a). Stable Equilibrium.
Stability
Unstable Equilibrium
• The centre of gravity
falls and continues to fall
further.
• The line of action of its
weight W lies outside the
base area of the cone.
• The clockwise moment
of its weight W about the
point of contact C
causes the toppling.
Fig 5.27(b). Unstable Equilibrium.
Stability
Neutral Equilibrium
• The centre of gravity
neither rises nor falls; it
remains at the same level
above the surface
supporting it.
• The lines of action of the
two forces always
coincide.
• There is no moment
provided but its weight W
about the point of contact
C to turn the paper cone. Fig 5.27(c). Neutral Equilibrium.
5.4 Stability
Hence, to increase stability of object,
• Centre of gravity is as low as possible.
• The area of its base is as wide as possible.
Fig 5.28. The more stable a car, the faster it can go round turns without overturning.
Hence, all racing cars have a very low wide base and a low centre of gravity.
Moments
Fig 5.1 Why does the boy require more

effort to pull the doorknob when the
doorknob is near the hinge than when it
is near the edge of the door?
Overloading a Cargo Plane
This accident occurred because the plane was overloaded toward
the rear. How did a shift in the center of gravity of the plane cause
the accident?
Moments
Definition:
The moment of a force (or torque) is the
product of the force and the perpendicular
distance from the pivot to the line of action of
the force.
Fig 5.2 A simple diagram that show the effect of pulling a door open.
Moments
Moment of a force = F x d
where F = force (in N)

d = perpendicular distance from pivot (in m)
• The SI unit of the moment is the newton metre (N m)

• It is a vector and thus has both magnitude and direction.
• Its direction is either clockwise or anti-clockwise.
Moments
 In which of the following would the student have more success
at loosening the nut?
The further the force acts from the pivot, the greater its moment.
Sample Problem Solving
1. A wrench is pushed upward by 10 N force. Determine the
moment of the force.
25 cm
Sample Problem Solving
2. A door knob has a diameter of 8.0 cm. If the hand can
offer 3.0 N force on the door knob. What is the moment
about the axis of rotation?
Bedroom Gate L Shape knob
Moments
Principle of Moments
When a body is in equilibrium, the sum of clockwise

moments about a pivot is equal to the sum of
anticlockwise moments about the same pivot.
• Why does a beam balance measure mass?
Problem Solving
1. A light horizontal beam, 14 m long, supported at its

midpoint is held in equilibrium by two vertical downward
forces, one of which is 16 N acting 3.7 m from one end.
Find where the other force of 12 N is acting.
Given: 14 m
?
3.7 m
16 N 12 N
Example Problem Solving
2. David and his father sat at the ends of a see-saw, 2 m from

the pivot as shown in the figure. Where should David’s
mother sit in order to balance the see-saw?
Conditions of Equilibrium
For an object to be in equilibrium:

• All forces acting on it are balanced. i.e. the
resultant force is zero.
• The resultant moment about the pivot is zero.
i.e. The Principle of Moment must apply.
Levers
Levers are simple machines that make use of the
principle of moments. When apply a force at one end
of the lever, a load may be lifted at the other end.

Unit 5: Turning Effect of Forces: Background: Walking The Tightrope PG 82

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Unit 5: Turning Effect of Forces

Background: Walking the tightrope pg 82

 A point at which all the mass of the object is

Fig 5.18 Centre of gravity of regular-shaped objects.

Fig 5.27(a). Stable Equilibrium.

Fig 5.27(b). Unstable Equilibrium.

Fig 5.1 Why does the boy require more

where F = force (in N)

• The SI unit of the moment is the newton metre (N m)

When a body is in equilibrium, the sum of clockwise

1. A light horizontal beam, 14 m long, supported at its

2. David and his father sat at the ends of a see-saw, 2 m from

For an object to be in equilibrium:

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