Chapter 5 The Turning Effect of Forces

(i)Moments

Have you ever wondered why the knob on a door is always located near the edge? What if it was
located in the center of the door or near the hinge of a door? To answer this question we must study the
turning effects of forces.

The figures above show the vector diagrams of a door being turned. In the first diagram, where the knob
is farther away from the hinge, it requires a smaller force to push the door by the same distance. In the
second diagram, where the knob is closer to the hinge, it is more difficult to push the door.

When a door is turned it is moving around a fixed point known as the pivot which in this case is the
hinge of the door. When a door is turned it rotates around the hinge. The ease at which a door is pushed
is determined by the perpendicular distance from the hinge (pivot) to the line of action. In the first
figure, the line of action of the force is farther away from the hinge making it easier for the door to be
pushed. In the second figure, the line of action is closer to the hinge (pivot) and it requires a larger force
for the door to be pushed. This demonstrates the moments of forces or the turning effects of forces. The
turning effect of a force is determine by two factors

 The magnitude of the force applied

 The perpendicular distance from the pivot to the line of action of a force

This term perpendicular distance may seem slightly intimidating but all it means is the distance between
the pivot (or turning point) to the direction in which the force is applied

The moment of a force is given by the formula below

Moment of a force + force applied x perpendicular distance from the pivot to the direction of force

Where force is measured in Newtons (N) and the distance is measure in meters (m)

The moment of a force is a vector quantity meaning it has both direction and magnitude. To represent
the moment of a force we need to state it’s magnitude in Newton Meters (Nm) and it’s direction which
can either can be clockwise or anti-clockwise from the pivot.
(ii)The Principle of Moments

A beam balance is a device for measuring mass. It consists of a lever with two pans on each side of it.
The distance between the pans and the lever is the same. Therefore, when the beam is balanced the
moment of the forces on each of it’s arms are equal.

Let’s say we want to measure the mass of an apple. Let’s say the apple has a mass, m. We place the
apple on of the pans. On the other pan we place standard masses, each of mass s. It requires three
standard masses for the beam to balance. Thus, we can deduce that the mass of the apple is equal to
three standard masses

M= 3s

The Principle of Moments

Think about the example above in terms of moments. The moment of the apple must be equal to the
moment of the three standard masses.

Weight of apple x distance from the lever to the pan = Weight of the standard masses x distance from
the lever to the pan

Mgd = 3sgd

M=3s

The Principle of Moments states that when a body is in equilibrium, the sum of its clockwise moments is
equal to the sum of it’s anticlockwise moments

(iii)The Center Of Gravity

If you’ve ever tried balancing a ruler you’ve surely noticed that it only balances at a certain point. And
that point is in the exact middle of the ruler. When you pivot a ruler in the middle, it is in equilibrium.
From the Principle of Moments, we can deduce that when a ruler is pivoted in the middle the sum of it’s
clockwise moments is equal to the sum of it’s anti-clockwise moments. When a ruler is pivoted
anywhere but the middle, the moments on one side of the ruler is greater than the moments on the
other side of the ruler. This demonstrates the concept of Center of Gravity. The Center of Gravity for an
object is the point through which it’s whole weight appears to act. If we assume the entire weight of the
ruler as acting through the middle we can see why it balances only at the middle. When a ruler is
pivoted in the middle the distance from the Center of Gravity to the pivot is zero, thus the moment of
the ruler is zero and it balances. When it is pivoted anywhere but the middle, the moment of the ruler is
greater than zero and it rotates.

The Center of Gravity for common, regularly shaped objects are at their geometrical center. For some
objects(such as hoops) their Center of Gravity may lie outside the volume of the object.

How to find the Center of Gravity of a An Irregularly Shaped Object

To find the center of gravity of an object of irregular density and/or shape the experiment below can be
carried out

Apparatus needed- Retort Stand, Pin, Plumb Line, Pencil

Step 1- Make three holes near the edge of the object. Make sure the holes are as far apart from each
other as possible

Step 2- Hang the object through one of the holes from the retort stand by suspending it with a pin.

Step 3- Hand a plumb line in front of the object using the pin. Mark the point where the plumb line
intersects the edge of the object, opposite the hole

Step 4- Join the hole and the dot using a ruler

Step 5- Repeat the process for the rest of the holes

Conclusion- The point at which all of the lines intersect is the center of gravity of the object

Precaution- 1.Make sure the object is free to rotate when it is hung from the retort stand.

2.Make sure the holes are small enough so as to not change the density of the object

(iv)Stability

A book has six faces- two of which are broad (the front and back faces) and the rest narrow. If you lay a
book flat on one of it’s narrow faces and give it a slight push, it will topple easily. If you balance the book
on one of its broader faces it does not topple very easily. The book lying on one of its broad faces is said
to be more stable than the book lying on one of it’s flat faces.

The stability of an object is a measure of it’s ability to return to it’s original position when a small force is
applied to it.

We can observe the relationship between Stability, Center of Gravity and Moments by balancing a cone
in different positions
 Stable Equillibrium Unstable Equillibrium Neutral Equillibrium

When the cone is rotated- When the cone is rotated
 It’s center of gravity
rises above it’s original
position
 It’s center of gravity still
lies within it’s base
 The moment of it’s
force about the contact
point brings the cone
back to it’s original
position
When the sphere is pushed-
 It’s center of gravity
falls below it’s original
position
 The cone’s center of
gravity fall outside it’s
base
 The moment of it’s
force about the contact
point makes the cone
fall to the ground
 It’s center of gravity
stays the same
 It’s weight and the
normal force is equal
 The moment of the
sphere about the
contact point is zero

From the examination above, we can see that the stability of an object is determined by the height of its
center of gravity and it’s base area. The higher the center of gravity and the wider the base, the more
stable the object. This explains why racing cars are designed the way they are and also why more
passengers are allowed on the lower deck of a double decker bus.