Department of Education

General Physics 1
Grade 12
Moment of Inertia
Torque, Momentum
Static Equilibrium
Second Quarter – Week 1

Paul Allen M. Gonzales

Writer
Mary Vienne M. Pascual
Validator
Dr. Darylle G. Hilapo
Armida S. Oblinada
Quality Assurance Team

Schools Division Office – Muntinlupa City

Student Center for Life Skills Bldg., Centennial Ave., Brgy. Tunasan, Muntinlupa City
(02) 8805-9935 / (02) 8805-9940
 These are what you will be able to know after completing the lessons in the SLeM

1. Calculate the moment of inertia about a given axis of single-object and

multiple-object systems (STEM_GP12REDIIa-1)
2. Calculate magnitude and direction of torque using the definition of torque as
a cross product (STEM_GP12REDIIa-3)
3. Describe rotational quantities using vectors (STEM_GP12REDIIa-4)
4. Determine whether a system is in static equilibrium or not
(STEM_GP12REDIIa-5)
5. Apply the rotational kinematic relations for systems with constant angular
accelerations (STEM_GP12REDIIa-6)
6. Determine angular momentum of different systems (STEM_GP12REDIIa-9)
7. Apply the torque-angular momentum relation (STEM_GP12REDIIa-10)
8. Solve static equilibrium problems in contexts but not limited to see-saws,
cable-hinge-strut system, leaning ladders, and weighing a heavysuitcase
using a small bathroom scale (STEM_GP12REDIIa-8)

Directions: Write the letter of the best answer on the blank before each number.
1. The torque depends upon
A. force only
B. moment arm only
C. mass
D. force and momentum arm

2. Along which a force act is called

A. line of action of force
B. line of acting torque
C. axis of rotation
D. moment arm

3. If 150N of farce is applied on a spanner of 10 cm to open a nut then the length of

spanner when the force applied on it is 60 N is
A. 25 cm
B. 80 cm
C. 40 cm
D. 50 cm

4. The body is said to be rigid if the distance between pairs if particles doesn't change
by applying
A. friction
B. law of inertia
C. force
D. law of momentum

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5. Moment arm is the
A. parallel distance
B. perpendicular distance
C. normal distance
D. resultant force

Moment of Inertia
Moment of inertia is the name given to rotational inertia, the rotational analog
of mass for linear motion. It appears in the relationships for the dynamics of
rotational motion. The moment of inertia must be specified with respect to a chosen
axis of rotation. For a point mass, the moment of inertia is just the mass times the
square of perpendicular distance to the rotation axis, I = mr2. That point mass
relationship becomes the basis for all other moments of inertia since any object can
be built up from a collection of point masses.

Torque

A torque is an influence which tends to change the rotational motion of an

object. One way to quantify a torque is

Torque = Force applied x lever arm

The lever arm is defined as the perpendicular distance from the axis of
rotation to the line of action of the force.

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Rotation Vectors

Angular motion has direction

associated with it and is inherently
a vector process. But a point on a
rotating wheel is continuously
changing direction and it is
inconvenient to track that direction.
The only fixed, unique direction for
a rotating wheel is the axis of
rotation, so it is logical to choose
this axis direction as the direction
of the angular velocity. Left with two
choices about direction, it is
customary to use the right hand
rule to specify the direction of
angular quantities.

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Conditions for Equilibrium
An object at equilibrium has no net influences to cause it to move, either in
translation (linear motion) or rotation. The basic conditions for equilibrium
are:

The conditions for equilibrium are basic to the design of any load-bearing
structure such as a bridge or a building since such structures must be able
to maintain equilibrium under load. They are also important for the study of
machines, since one must first establish equilibrium and then apply extra
force or torque to produce the desired movement of the machine. The
conditions of equilibrium are used to analyze the "simple machines" which
are the building blocks for more complex machines.

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Angular Momentum of a Particle

The angular momentum of a particle of mass m with respect to a chosen origin

is given by
L = mvr sin θ

or more formally by the vector product

L=rxp

The direction is given by the right hand rule which would give L the direction
out of the diagram. For an orbit, angular momentum is conserved, and this
leads to one of Kepler's laws. For a circular orbit, L becomes
L = mvr

The angular momentum of a rigid object is defined as the product of

the moment of inertia and the angular velocity. It is analogous to linear
momentum and is subject to the fundamental constraints of the conservation
of angular momentum principle if there is no external torque on the object.
Angular momentum is a vector quantity. It is derivable from the expression
for the angular momentum of a particle.

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Example Problems on Static Equilibrium
Example 1. Suppose one truck is parked on a bridge as shown in Figure 1.
The truck weighs 1000 lb which is acting through its center of gravity (CG).
The bridge weighs 200 lbs per feet, which is uniformly distributed. We can
assume the bridge is rigid. We want to know what will be the reaction forces
at the supports of bridge at the two ends.

Step 1: Draw Free Body Diagram (FBD) Total weight of the bridge = 200
lb/ft *75ft = 15,000 lb. Since the weight is uniformly distributed; it is acting
through the middle of the length of the bridge, ie. 75/2=37.5 ft. from left
support. R1 & R2 are the unknown reaction forces at the support. FBD for
the bridge is drawn (Figure 2) with all the known and unknown forces and
the distances between the forces.

Step 2: Apply Equilibrium Conditions (ΣFx=0; ΣFy=0;& ΣM=0):

ΣFx=0: Produces nothing as no force in x direction

ΣFy=0: 1000+15,000-R1-R2 = 0, or R1+R2 = 16,000 ………….. (1)
ΣM=0:

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If we take moment of forces about the left support, then the forces 1000#
and 15,000# will produce a clockwise moment (positive). The force R2 will
produce a counter-clockwise (negative) moment. Thus,
ΣM=0: 1000*25+15,000*37.5-R2*75 = 0
Or,
R2 = (1000*25+15,000*37.5)/75 Or,
R2 = 7833 lb
Putting value of R2 in (1):
R1 = 16,000-7833.3 = 8167 lb

Directions: Encircle the correct answer.

1. The axis about which moment of area is taken is known as ____________
A. Axis of area
B. Axis of moment
C. Axis of reference
D. Axis of rotation

2. Point, where the total volume of the body is assumed to be concentrated

is ____________
A. Center of area
B. Centroid of volume
C. Centroid of mass
D. All of the mentioned

3. What is MOI?
A. ml2
B. mal
C. ar2
D. None of the mentioned

4. What is the formula of radius of gyration?

A. k2 = I/A
B. k2 = I2/A
C. k2 = I2/A2
D. k2 = (I/A)1/2

5. What is the formula of theorem of perpendicular axis?

A. Izz = Ixx – Iyy
B. Izz = Ixx + Ah2
C. Izz – Ixx = Iyy
D. None of the mentioned

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1. The unit of torque is:
A. N B. Pa C. N/m D. N m

2. The unit of work is:

A. N B. J C. W D.N/m

3. The unit of power is:

A. N B. J C. W D. N/m

4. The unit of the moment of inertia is:

A. kg m2 B. kg C. kg/m2 D. N m

5. A force of 100 N is applied to the rim of a pulley wheel of diameter

200 mm. The torque is:
A. 2 N m B. 20 kN m C. 10 N m D. 20 N m

Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. A nut has been tightened by a force of 180 N using an 8 cm long spanner.

What length of a spanner is required to loosen the same nut with 150 N
force?
A. 11 cm
B. 8.5 cm
C. 9.6 cm
D. 10.9 cm

2. A force of 120 N is applied perpendicularly on a spanner at a distance of 9

cm from a nut. The torque produced by the force will be
A. 12 Nm
B. 10.8 Nm
C. 15 Nm
D. 12.59 Nm

3. If the force ‘F’ is multiplied by arm ‘L’, we get

A. momentum
B. distance
C. torque/moment
D. inertia

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4. The steering of a car has a radius of 15 cm. The torque produced by a
couple of 40 N will be
A. 12 Nm
B. 10.8 Nm
C. 15 Nm
D. 12.59 Nm

5. A boy tightens the nut of a car using a 16 cm long spanner by applying a

force of 180 N. The torque will be
A. 2880 N m
B. 28.8 N m
C. 30 N m
D. 11.25 N m

References:

(n.d.). Retrieved January 05, 2021, from http://hyperphysics.phy-

astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html

OpenStax. (2016, August 03). University Physics Volume 1. Retrieved January 05,
2021, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-
osuniversityphysics/chapter/12-2-examples-of-static-equilibrium/

Torque and Moment of Force MCQs Quiz Online Download PDF. (n.d.). Retrieved
January 05, 2021, from https://mcqlearn.com/physics/g9/torque-and-
moment-of-force-mcqs.php

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