Method of Moments

• The concept that force tends to produce rotation about a

fixed point in any body to which it is applied is useful in the
solution of problems in statics.
• The tendency of a force to produce rotation of a body about
a fixed point is called the moment of the force with respect
to that point.
• The product of magnitude of a force and the
perpendicular distance from the point to the line of action
of the force with respect to that point.
Moment of a force = Force x perpendicular distance
Let ‘F’ is the force applied and ‘d’ is the perpendicular
distance between A and the line of action of the force.

Moment about A = F x d
Note: The moment of a force is zero if the moment centre lies on the line of action of the force

Units of a Moment: SI Units N-m or kN-m

Sign convention:
Clockwise Moment: If the moment rotates the body in clockwise
direction the it is called as clockwise moment. Sign convention of
the clockwise moments are positive (+ve).
MA

MA = F x d
Anticlockwise Moment: If the moment rotates the body in
anticlockwise direction then it is called as anticlockwise moment.
Sign convention of anticlockwise moments are negative(-ve).

MA = ‒ F x d A d B
F
Varignon’s Theorem: It states that “The moment of a force about an axis is
equal to the sum of the moments of its components about the same axis”.
Consider a Force F acting at a point A and having
components F1 and F2.
Let ‘O’ as the moment centre
Moment of the force ‘F’ about ‘O’
F x d = F x OA cos γ = OA x F cos γ = OA x Fx ………………(1)
Moment of the force F1 about ‘O’
F1 x a = F1 x OA cos α = OA x F1 cos α = OA x Fx1 …………..(2)
Moment of the force F2 about ‘O’
F2 x b = F2 x OA cos β = OA x F2 cos β = OA x Fx2……………(3)

Adding (2) and (3)

F1 x a + F2 x b = OA x Fx1 + OA x Fx2 = OA (Fx1 + Fx2 ) = OA FX = F x d

So, F x d = F1 x a + F2 x b
Example: Calculate the Moment of force F = 300 N about
point B as shown in figure.
Moment Example: Calculate the magnitude of the moment about
the base point ‘O’ of the 600 N force in different ways
Moment Equation of Equilibrium: Algebric sum of moments of a
system of concurrent forces in a plane becomes equal to zero i) if
the centre of moments lies on the line of action of the resultant (or)
ii) if the resultant is equal to zero and the forces are in equilibrium.
Let us assume that a number of concurrent forces F1, F2, F3, F4 be acting at point ‘O’.
Let the algebraic sum of the moments of
these forces about any point A be zero, i.e.
∑MA = 0; then
Either (a) the resultant of forces F1, F2, F3, F4 is zero (or)
(b) the point A lies on the line of action of resultant. Which
Implies that the resultant lies on the line OA.
Let us now choose any other point B and find the sum of the
moments of these forces about this point B.
Suppose it also zero, that is ∑MB = 0; then either the resultant is
zero or the line of action of resultant lies along OB.
Since the resultant cannot have two lines of actions, that is, along
OA as well as OB, so the resultant must be zero.
Therefore ∑MA = 0;
Moment equations of equilibrium
∑MB = 0;
Some time the moment equations of equilibrium can offer certain
advantage by way of eliminating an unknown reaction or a force provided
the moment centre is chosen to lie on the line of action of that force