MOMENT OF A FORCE

Moment of a force about a point is the measure of its rotational effect. Moment is defined as the
product of the magnitude of the force and the perpendicular distance of the point from the line of
FUNDAMENTALS OF STATICS 19
action of the force. The point about which the moment is considered is called moment centre and
the perpendicular distance of the point from the line of action of the force is called moment arm.
Referring to Fig. 2.5, if d1 is the perpendicular distance of point 1 from the line of action of force
F, the moment of F about point 1 is given by
M1 = F d1 ...(2.2)
Similarly, moment about point 2 is given by
M2 = F d2 ...(2.3)
If the moment centre 3 lies on the line of action of the force F, the moment arm is zero and
hence,
M3 = F × 0 = 0 ...(2.4)
Thus, it may be noted that if a point lie on the line of action of a force, the moment of the force
about that point is zero.
The moment of a force has got direction also. In Fig. 2.5 it