Activity 2.1.

5 Calculating Moments
Introduction
Why would the Leaning Tower of Pisa be more likely to
fall over with a group of people on the top floor rather
than the bottom floor? The people weigh no more or less
on one floor than the other. This is because the tower is
anchored at the bottom. If the tower fell, the top would
rotate around the base where it is pivoted. As more
weight gathers at the top of the tower, a greater
tendency to rotate exists because the weight has shifted
further from the base. Such force is referred to as a
moment. Engineers must be able to understand and
calculate moments. Sometimes they need large
moments to perform work, but they also must account
for all moments inherent in any system in order to be
sure that the design is safe and functions as intended.

Equipment
 Calculator
 Meter stick
 Scientific mass or known weight

Procedure
You will explore firsthand the relationship between forces and distances as they are
applied to a rigid object. In this activity you will be required to imagine trying to keep
a meter stick level as varying moments are applied to the meter stick. For the
purpose of this activity, the weight of the meter stick is not considered. You could
either balance the mass on the stick or hang the mass from a string.

You will use a mass of 20 N connected to a meter stick.

Imagine holding the meter stick and mass as pictured here.

1. If the mass is positioned 25 cm from the man’s hands,

calculate the moment experienced by man.

2. If the mass is positioned 50 cm from the man’s hands,

calculate the moment experienced by man.

3. If the mass is positioned 75 cm from the man’s hands, calculate the moment
experienced by man.

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Principles Of Engineering Activity 2.1.5 Calculating Moments – Page 1
4. If the mass is positioned 100 cm from the man’s hands, calculate the moment
experienced by man.

5. Use a moment equation to calculate the resistance

force RAY for the truss shown to the right. The
base of the trust is 10 meters wide, and the height
of the truss in 8 meters. Show your work.

6. Has the force arrow been drawn to indicate the correct direction of RAY? Justify
your answer.

For 7 – 11, use ∑ 𝑀 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∑ 𝐹𝑥 = ∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0 to find all missing Reaction Forces and
their direction for the Truss systems. Assume the “rotation” for the moments is
about the pinned support.

7.

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8.

9.

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10.

11.

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Principles Of Engineering Activity 2.1.5 Calculating Moments – Page 4