2 Force and Motion Chapter 5 Moment of a Force

5 Moment of a Force 8 (a) normal reaction N

by plank

Practice 5.1 (p.185)

P
1 A
Moment about X
weight W
= Fd = 30 (0.7) sin 15 = 5.44 N
2 D normal
reaction from
Maximum magnitude of moment pivot
= FD = 5  (0.2  2) = 2 N m d 2d
plank
3 A
O
4 D
Just before the nail moves, force FQ by Q
force FP by
clockwise moment P
(b) Normal reaction N acting on P by the
= anticlockwise moment
plank and the force FP acting on the
100  0.3 = f  0.05
plank by P
f = 600 N
(c) Since P is stationary,
5 D
N=W
6 The moment arms are the same for the three
By Newton’s third law,
forces.
N = FP
 They produce moments of the same
 FP = W
magnitude.
(d) Clockwise moment
7 (a) Moment about O
= anticlockwise moment
= 5  0.25 cos 35
M  2d = m  d
= 1.02 N m (anticlockwise) m
(b) M=
2
X m
 The mass of Q is .
2

Practice 5.2 (p.198)

1 B
1. 2
= cos 30 Take moment about the pivot.
OX
1.2 Sum of clockwise moment
OX = = 1.386 m = sum of anticlockwise moment
cos 30
Moment about O 600  3 = 400  (1 + 2) + W  2
= 50  OX  sin 65 W = 300 N
= 50  1.386  sin 65 2 D
= 62.8 N m (anticlockwise)

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 5 Moment of a Force

50 the object rotate. This moment will be

Distance of c.g. from pivot =  10 = 15
2 zero only if the c.g. is vertically below
cm the point of suspension.
Distance of P from pivot Revision exercise 5
= 50  10  15 = 25 cm Cocept traps (p.200)
Take moment about the pivot. 1 F
Sum of clockwise moment A couple, which consists of two equal and
= sum of anticlockwise moment opposite forces, can make an object rotate.
20  15 = F  25 sin 40 2 T
F = 18.7 N
3 C Multiple-choice questions (p.200)
4 A 3 A
5 After releasing, the c.g. of the ruler is outside 4 B
the base of support (the table). Therefore, the Magnitude of moment
ruler loses balance and falls. = FD
6 No, he cannot. When he stands against a wall, = 8  0.4 sin 130
he cannot move backwards and his centre of = 2.45 N m
gravity would be outside the base of support, 5 C
i.e. his feet, if he bends over. 20 N
0.5 m 0.5 m

c.g. X

weight of rod W
weight
contact point
The c.g. of the rod is at its middle.
When the roly-poly is tilted as shown, its Take moment about X.
weight produces a clockwise moment about Clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment
the contact point and makes it return to the W  0.5 = 20  1
original position. Therefore, it stays upright. W = 40 N
8 (a) The c.g. of the bus will be higher when 6 B
passengers stand on the upper deck. The 7 D
c.g. may be shifted outside the base of 8 B
support even if the bus is only tilted The force acting on the rod by the pivot at O is
slightly. This produces a net moment not zero.
and makes the bus topple over.  (1) is incorrect.
(b) If the c.g. is not vertically below the Take moment about O. Also, take clockwise
point of suspension, the weight of the moment as positive.
object will produce a moment that makes Net moment = 6  0.07  10  0.02  4  0.02

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 5 Moment of a Force

= 0.14 N m horizontal distance d2 between the

 (2) is correct. weight and A will be longer. 1A
The rod is not in equilibrium. The net moment 2.4d1
Since m = , 1A
about different points may be different. d2
 (3) is incorrect. the answer to (a) will be smaller. 1A
9 (HKALE 2008 Paper 2 Q1) 15 (a) (i) Take moment about the contact
10 (HKALE 2009 Paper 2 Q2) point.
11 (HKDSE 2012 Paper 1A Q6) Anticlockwise moment
12 (HKDSE 2014 Paper 1A Q3) = clockwise moment
F(5) = 1.5(9.81)15 + 5(9.81)30
Conventional quesionts (p.201) 1M
(a) normal reaction
from Y
= 338 N 1A
The force exerted by the biceps is
friction
338 N.
weight (ii) No, 1A
there is an inclined force acting on
(1 correct force with correct name) 1A the forearm at the contact point.1A
(All correct) 1A (b) The weight is further away from the
(b) No, it cannot. 1A pivot (the shoulder). 1A
If the c.g. is not vertically above Y, it is Therefore, the clockwise moment
outside the base of support and X will produced by the weight about the pivot
lose balance. 1A is larger. 1A
14 (a) Just before toppling, the force by the He must exert a larger force on the arm
table will act on the stand at A. to produce a larger anticlockwise
Take moment about A. moment. 1A
Clockwise moment As a result, he feels more tired.
= anticlockwise moment (a) tension T tension T

2.4  9.81  3 = m  9.81  10 1M 50 50

m = 0.72 kg 1A
The maximum mass is 0.72 kg.
(b) Shorten the distance between the clamp weight = 10 N

and the stand. 1A

(1 correct force with correct name) 1A
Put a weight on the stand. 1A
(All correct) 1A
(Or other reasonable answers)
(b) Consider the vertical direction.
(c) When the system is put on an inclined
Since the board is stationary, by
plane, the horizontal distance d1 between
Newton’s first law,
X and A will be shorter and the

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 5 Moment of a Force

2T sin 50 = 10 1M (d) The heavier load should be put closer to

T = 6.53 N 1A her. 1A
The tension in each string is 6.53 N. (e) She has to apply a downward force on
(c) (i) tension T1 tension T2 the pole to keep it in equilibrium. 1A
The total force acting on her shoulder
50 50
P Q would become larger. 1A
X Therefore, it would be harder if the two
S R
loads are put together. 1A
W 10 N 18 (a) Since the plank does not move, by
Newton’s first law,
Let the length of PQ be 2d, the
TB + 110 = 50 + 150
length of SX be c and the weight of
TB = 90 N 1A
the mass be W.
The tension is 90 N.
Take moment about P.
(b) Take moment about the contact point
Wc + 10d = T2(2d) sin 50 1A
Wc  10d between A and the plank.
T2 = Anticlockwise moment
2d sin 50
Take moment about Q. = clockwise moment
W(2d  c) + 10d = T1(2d) sin 50 90  65 = 50d + 150
 15  65  20 
T1 =   15 
W ( 2d  c)  10d  2 
2d sin 50 1M
> T2 1A d = 12 cm 1A
 The left string breaks. 1A The distance between the robot and
(ii) M string A is 12 cm.
(c) (i) Take moment about the contact
point between B and the plank.
Anticlockwise moment
C = clockwise moment
50(65  d) + 150(50  20)
= 115  65 1M
(C vertically below M) 1A d = 5.5 cm 1A
17 (a) No, 1A The minimum distance is 5.5 cm.
this is because the two forces point in the (ii) No, it cannot. 1A
same direction. 1A Take moment about the contact
(b) The force acting on the woman’ shoulder point between string B and the
= 200 + 200 = 400 N 1A plank. The anticlockwise moment
(c) It would be the same. 1A will be larger when the robot is on

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 5 Moment of a Force

the left of A than when it is on the (b) No net force acts on it. 1A
right. 1A No net moment acts on it. 1A
Therefore, the tension needed by A (c) (i) Take moment about X.
will be even larger 1A
and A will break.
19 (a) Take moment about the pivot.
Clockwise moment
50
= anticlockwise moment 40
500(9.81)12 = (m + 300)(9.81)6 1M
m = 700 g 1A
weight = 400
The mass of the object is 700 g. N

(b) Since the pan and the 500-g mass have Clockwise moment
the same acceleration, 1A = anticlockwise moment
the result will remain unchanged. 1A 400(0.9) sin 40 = T(0.6) sin 70
(c) Use a heavier mass to replace the 500-g 1M
mass. 1A T = 410.4 N
Move the pivot closer to the pan. 1A  410 N 1A
20 (a) Let T be the tension in the cable and N The tension in the rope is 410 N.
be the normal reaction. (ii)
Take moment about Q. 410.4 N force on pole
Clockwise moment 20 by ground F
= anticlockwise moment

(T sin 60)(1.6 + 0.7)
= 9000  0.7 + (T cos 60)0.4 400 N

1M
Consider the vertical direction.
T = 3516 N
400 = 410.4 sin 20 + F sin  1M
 3520 N 1A
 F sin  = 259.6 (1)
Consider the vertical direction.
Consider the horizontal direction.
3516 sin 60 + N = 9000 1M
F cos  = 410.4 cos 20 (2) 1M
N = 5960 N 1A
(1)  (2),
The tension in the cable is 3520 N and
tan  = 0.673
the normal reaction is 5960 N.
 = 33.94
(b) (i) No 1A
 33.9 1A
(ii) Yes 1A
From (2),
21 (a) The centre of gravity of a rigid body is 410.4 cos 20
F= = 465 N 1A
the position that the weight of the body cos 33.94
seems to act. 1A

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2 Force and Motion Chapter 5 Moment of a Force

The required force is 465 N acting along the slanted surface and
(towards right at 33.9 above  be the slanting angle.
horizontal). Take moment about T.
Moment produced by F
22 (HKALE 2009 Paper 1 Q2(a)) = F(2r) sin  = 2Fr sin 
23 (HKALE 2012 Paper 1 Q2) Moment produced by W = Wr
To avoid toppling,
Experiment questions (p.205) Wr  2Fr sin 
24 Set up the apparatus as shown. W
 1 1A
2F sin 
string
W
ruler is independent of the
string
 2F sin 
protractor
radius r and increases when 
string
weight decreases. 1A
spring Therefore, decreasing  helps
balance
stabilize the bowl while increasing
r does not.
F (b) Zero 1A

(Correct set-up) 1A
Pull the spring balance as shown so that the
ruler remains horizontal. 1A
Measure the force F with the spring balance
and the angle  with the protractor. 1A
Record several sets of F and  while keeping
the ruler horizontal. 1A
1
Plot a graph of F against . If the graph
sin 
is a straight line passing through the origin, F
is inversely proportional to sin . 1A

Physics in article (p.205)

25 (a) (i) Moment about T
= 3(0.09  2) sin 45 1M
= 0.382 N m (clockwise) 1A
(ii) Let W be the bowl’s weight, r be
the bowl’s radius, F be the force

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