Introduction

• This chapter you will learn about moments

• Moments can be described as turning forces –

rather than pushing an object along, they turn
it round

• You will learn how to calculate the moment of a

force on a pivot point

• You will learn how to calculate moments in rods

that are in equilibrium
 Moments 5N

4N
You can find the moment of a force acting on a
body

Up until this point you have learnt about forces

pushing or pulling a particle in a particular 7gN
direction 6N

The particle does not turn round, it just moves in a

direction, based on the sum of the forces

For moments, we replace the particle with a

straight rod (often called a lamina)
 Imagine the rod had a fixed ‘pivot point’ 6N 6N
6N
A force acting on the rod at the centre, beneath
the pivot point, will not cause it to move

If the force is moved to the side however, the rod

will rotate around the pivot point
 A greater force will cause the turning speed
to be faster
 If the force is further from the pivot point, 6N
the turning speed will be faster as well…

5A
 Moments
You can find the moment of a force acting
3m
on a body
C
The turning motion caused by a force is
dependant on:

The magnitude of the force

 A bigger force causes more turn 5N

The distance the force is from the pivot point

 A bigger distance causes more turn =5 ×3
(For example, the further you push a door = 15
from the hinge, the less effort is required to
close it.) Moments are measured in Newton-metres
 You must always include the direction of
To calculate the total moment about a point: the moment
Moment about a point = Force x (either clockwise or anticlockwise)
Perpendicular distance  The distance must always be perpendicular
from the pivot to the force itself…
5A
 Moments
4N
You can find the moment of a force acting F
on a body
2m
The turning motion caused by a force is
dependant on:

The magnitude of the force

 A bigger force causes more turn Calculate the moment of the force about point F

The distance the force is from the pivot point

 A bigger distance causes more turn
=4 ×2
(For example, the further you push a door
from the hinge, the less effort is required to =8
close it.)

To calculate the total moment about a point:

Moment about a point = Force x
Perpendicular distance

5A
 Moments
You can find the moment of a force acting A
on a body
4m
4Sin30 30°
9N
The turning motion caused by a force is
dependant on:

The magnitude of the force

Calculate the moment of the force about point A
 A bigger force causes more turn
 Draw a triangle to find the perpendicular
distance!
The distance the force is from the pivot point
 A bigger distance causes more turn

(For example, the further you push a door =9 ×4 30

from the hinge, the less effort is required to
close it.) = 18

To calculate the total moment about a point:

Moment about a point = Force x
Perpendicular distance

5A
 Moments (1) (3)
5N 3N
You can find the sum of the moment
of a set of forces acting on a body 2m 1m 1m

P
Sometimes you will have a number of
moments acting around a single point. 4N
(2)
 You need to calculate each one
individually and then choose a Calculate the sum of the moments acting about the point P
positive direction  Start by calculating each moment individually (it might
be useful to label them!)

 Adding the forces together will (1) 5 ×3 = 15

then give the overall magnitude
and direction of movement (2) 4 ×1 =4
(3) 3 ×1 =3
If we had chosen anticlockwise as
the positive direction our answer Choosing clockwise as the positive direction…
would have been -8Nm anticlockwise
15 −4 −3
 This is just 8Nm clockwise (the
same!) =8
5B
 Moments
(1)
You can find the sum of the moment 5N
of a set of forces acting on a body

2m
Sometimes you will have a number of
moments acting around a single point.
4m P
 You need to calculate each one
individually and then choose a
positive direction (2) 5N

 Adding the forces together will Calculate the sum of the moments acting about the point P
then give the overall magnitude  Start by calculating each moment individually (it might
and direction of movement be useful to label them!)

(1) 5 ×2 = 10
(2) 5 ×4 = 20
Choosing anticlockwise as the positive direction…
20 − 10

= 10
5B
 Moments
You can solve problems about bodies 4m 4m
resting in equilibrium by equating the
clockwise and anticlockwise moments Y

 When a rigid body is in equilibrium, the 10N 10N

resultant force in any direction is 0 (1) (2)

 The moments about any point on the Calculate the sum of the moments acting about the point Y
object will also sum to 0  Calculate each moment separately

(1) 10 ×4 = 40
(2) 10 ×4 = 40

As the moments are equal in both directions, the rod will

not turn and hence, is in equilibrium!

As the rod is fixed at Y is will not be lifted up by the

forces either!

5C
 Moments
You can solve problems about bodies 2m 6m
resting in equilibrium by equating the
clockwise and anticlockwise moments Z
1N
 When a rigid body is in equilibrium, the 3N (2)
resultant force in any direction is 0 (1)

 The moments about any point on the Calculate the sum of the moments acting about the point Z
object will also sum to 0  Calculate each moment separately

(1) 3 ×2 =6
(2) 1 ×6 =6

As the moments are equal in both directions, the rod will

not turn and hence, is in equilibrium!

5C
 Moments
RA RC
(1)
You can solve problems about bodies
resting in equilibrium by equating the 2m 1m
A B
clockwise and anticlockwise moments 1.5m 0.5m C

 When a rigid body is in equilibrium, the (2) “Uniform rod” = weight

resultant force in any direction is 0 20N is in the centre

As the rod is in equilibrium, the total normal reaction (spread

 The moments about any point on the across both supports) is equal to 20N (the total downward force)
object will also sum to 0
+ = 20
The diagram to the right shows a uniform Take moments about C (you do not need to include RC as its
distance is 0)
rod of length 3m and weight 20N resting
horizontally on supports at A and C, where
(1) 2 × =2
AC = 2m.
(2) 0.5 × 20 = 10
Calculate the magnitude of the normal
The clockwise and anticlockwise moments must be equal for
reaction at both of the supports equilibrium
This makes sense – as RC is 2 = 10
closer to the centre of mass is Divide by 2
bearing more of the object’s =5
weight! Use the original equation
= 15 to calculate RC 5C
 Moments
RC
40g 2R
80g
RDC

You can solve problems about bodies

resting in equilibrium by equating the 1m 1.5m 1.5m 1m
A B
clockwise and anticlockwise moments C E D

A uniform beam, AB, of mass 40kg and As the reaction at

“Uniform beam” = 40g 80g D is bigger, the
length 5m, rests horizontally on supports weight is in the centre
man must be
at C and D where AC = DB = 1m. closer to D than C

When a man of mass 80kg stands on the The normal reactions must equal the total downward force
beam at E, the magnitude of the reaction
3 = 120
at D is double the reaction at C.
Divide by 3
= 40
By modelling the beam as a rod and the man RD is double this
= 80
as a particle, find the distance AE.

5C
 Moments
(1) 40g (4) 80g
You can solve problems about bodies
resting in equilibrium by equating the 1m 1.5m 1.5m 1m
A B
clockwise and anticlockwise moments C x E D

A uniform beam, AB, of mass 40kg and (2) 40g 80g (3)
length 5m, rests horizontally on supports
at C and D where AC = DB = 1m.
Let us call the required distance x (from A to E)
 Take moments about A
When a man of mass 80kg stands on the (we could do this around any point, but this will make the
beam at E, the magnitude of the reaction algebra easier)
at D is double the reaction at C.
(1) 1 × 40 = 40
By modelling the beam as a rod and the man (2) 2.5 × 40 = 100
as a particle, find the distance AE. (3) × 80 = 80
(4) 4 × 80 = 320
Equilibrium so anticlockwise = clockwise
40 + 320 = 100 + 80
So the man should Group terms
stand 3.25m from A! 360 = 100 + 80
Cancel g’s
360 = 100 + 80
Calculate
3.25 =
5C
 Moments
(1) R0C RD

You can solve problems about bodies

resting in equilibrium by equating the 0.5m 1.5m 1.5m 0.5m
clockwise and anticlockwise moments A B
C D

A uniform rod of length 4m and mass 12kg

is resting in a horizontal position on (2) 12g mg (3)
supports at C and D, with AC = DB = 0.5m
Taking moments about D
When a particle of mass mkg is placed on
the rod at point B, the rod is on the point
(1) ℎ 0 =0
of turning about D. (2) 1.5 × 12 = 18
Find the value of m. (3) 0.5 × = 0.5

 If the rod is on the point of turning Although it is on the point of turning, the rod is still in
around D, then there will be no equilibrium
reaction at C  Anticlockwise = clockwise The mass is 36kg
 RC = 0  More than this and
18 = 0.5 the rod will turn
Cancel g’s about D
(the rod is effectively hovering above 18 = 0.5  Less than this and
Multiply by 2
support C, about to move upwards as it 36 = some of the normal
rotates round D) reaction will be at C

5C
 Moments
RM

You can solve problems about non-uniform

bodies by finding or using the centre of 1.8m 0.2m x
mass A B
C M

The mass of a non-uniform body can be (1) 25g (2) 25g 35g (3)
modelled as acting at its centre of mass
Let Sam sit ‘x’ m from the midpoint
 This means the weight of the rod may Take moments about M (this way we don’t need to know RM)
not necessarily be in the centre as it
(1) 2 × 25 = 50
has been so far
(2) 0.2 × 25 = 5
Sam and Tamsin are sitting on a non-uniform
plank AB of mass 25kg and length 4m. (3) × 35 = 35

The rod is in equilibrium so anticlockwise = clockwise

The plank is pivoted at M, the midpoint of
AB, and the centre of mass is at C where AC 50 + 5 = 35
= 1.8m. Group terms
55 = 35
Cancel g’s
Tamsin has mass 25kg at sits at A. How far 55 = 35
Divide by 35
should Sam sit from A to balance the plank? 1.57 =
Sam should sit 3.57m from A (or 0.43m from B)
 Make sure you always read where the distance should be measured from!
5D
 Moments RC = 3RD
3R
15N
RCD RD
5N
You can solve problems about non-
uniform bodies by finding or using the A 1m 1.5m 0.5m B
centre of mass C D

A rod AB is 3m long and has weight 20N.

It is in a horizontal position resting on 20N
supports at points C and D, where AC = Estimate where the centre of mass is on your diagram
1m and AD = 2.5.  We can replace RC with 3RD
 Now find the normal reactions
The magnitude of the reaction at C is
4 = 20
three times the magnitude of the Divide by 4
reaction at D. =5

= 15
Find the distance of the centre of mass
of the rod from A.

5D
 Moments (1) (3)
15N 5N
You can solve problems about non-
uniform bodies by finding or using the A 1m 1.5m 0.5m B
centre of mass x C D

A rod AB is 3m long and has weight 20N.

It is in a horizontal position resting on 20N (2)
supports at points C and D, where AC = Now take moments about A, calling the required distance ‘x’
1m and AD = 2.5. (You’ll find it is usually easiest to do this from the end of the rod!)
(1) 1 × 15 = 15
The magnitude of the reaction at C is
(2) × 20 = 20
three times the magnitude of the
reaction at D. (3) 2.5 × 5 = 12.5

Equilibrium so anticlockwise = clockwise

Find the distance of the centre of mass
of the rod from A. 15 + 12.5 = 20
Group terms
27.5 = 20
Calculate
1.38 =

The centre of mass is 1.38m from A

5D
 Summary
• We have learnt that moments are turning
forces

• We have learnt how to solve problems involving

several moments

• We have seen how to solve problems involving

rods being in equilibrium

• We have also seen how to find the centre of

mass if a rod is non-uniform