Worksheet Topic :Moment

Name: ________________________ Date: __________ Class : IG 1___

1 Point X is the centre of mass of a lamina in the shape of a triangle with sides of equal length.
The top of the triangle is cut off along the dotted line shown.

What happens to the centre of mass, X?

A moves towards the bottom of the page
B moves to the left
C moves to the right
D moves towards the top of the page

2 Four solid uniform cones have equal weight. They are placed on a bench as shown in the
scale diagram.
Which cone is the most stable?
C

3 A metal cone with a circular base is placed on a flat surface.

The stability of the cone depends on

A its weight only.

B the diameter of its base and the position of its

centre of mass.

1
 C the diameter of its base only.

D the position of its centre of mass only.

4 A beam is pivoted at its centre of mass.

It is acted upon by two forces, 10 N and 5.0 N, as shown.

What is the resultant moment about the pivot?

A 25 N cm anticlockwise
B 25 N cm clockwise
C 175 N cm anticlockwise
D 175 N cm clockwise

5 A uniform metre rule is balanced by a 4 N weight as shown in the diagram.

What is the weight W of the metre rule?

A 1N B 4N C 16 N D 40 N

2
6 A beam is pivoted at one end, as shown.

The beam weighs 6.0 N and its weight acts at a point X, 40 cm from the pivot.
A force of 4.0 N is applied to the beam causing it to balance horizontally.

In which direction and where is the 4.0 N force applied?

A downwards at 20 cm to the left of X

B downwards at 20 cm to the right of X
C upwards at 20 cm to the left of X
D upwards at 20 cm to the right of X

Q7 Fig. 6.1 shows a spanner tightening a nut.

Fig. 6.1

A force of 8.0 N is applied to the spanner at a perpendicular distance of 0.15 m from the
centre of the nut.

Calculate the moment of the force acting on the nut.

3
 moment = Force x distance [2]
= 8 x 1.5
= 1.2 Nm
Q7 (a) State the two conditions required for the equilibrium of a body acted upon by a number of
forces.
1. No resultant force should be acting on the object.
2. No resultant moment should be acting on the object.
[2]

(b) Fig. 3.1 shows a diagram of an arm with the hand holding a weight of 120 N.

Fig. 3.1

20 N force is the weight of the forearm, acting at its centre of mass. F is the force in the
muscle of the upper arm. P is the point in the elbow about which the arm pivots. The distances
of the forces from point P are shown.

(i) By taking moments about point P, calculate the force F.

Total clockwise moment = total anticlockwise moment
(20 x 15) + (120 x 33) = 2 x F
300 + 3960 = 2F
4260 = 2F
4260/2 = F
force F = 2130 N [3]

(ii) A force acts on the forearm at point P. Calculate this force and state its direction.

force = (2130 – 140) = 1990

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 direction = downwards [2]
[Total: 7] nov2011/P31

Q8 A tower crane has a load W, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

Fig. 3.1
(a) The counterweight has a weight of 80 000 N. This acts at a distance of 5.0 m from the pivot,
as shown in Fig. 3.1.

Calculate the moment of the counterweight about the pivot. Give the unit.

Moment = Force x distance

= 80 000 x 5

moment = 400 000 Nm [3]

(b) The tower crane in Fig. 3.1 balances horizontally when holding the load W.
Calculate the weight of load W.
Clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment
400 000 = 8W
400 000/8 = W

weight = 50 000 N [3][Total: 6]