Solutions to Moments – Test A Fundamentals Challenge  Expert

1. a) Diagram should include:

• Reaction from support A vertically upwards: e.g. RA above point A M1
• Reaction from support B vertically upwards: e.g. RB above point B M1
• Weight of rod vertically downwards: 12.5g N or 122.5 N at an arbitrary distance, say d m, from A M1
e.g. see below.
RA RB

A B

dm (2.5 – d) m

122.5 N
b) Taking clockwise as positive:
Resultant moment about B = (−122.5)  (2.5 − d ) + RA  2.5 M1
= −306.25 + 122.5d + 2.5 RA N m clockwise A1
We are told in the question that RA = 19.6 N. Also, the rod is in equilibrium, so the above moment is equal to zero.
 − 306.25 + 122.5d + 2.5 19.6 = 0
−2.5  19.6 + 306.25
d = = 2.1
122.5
So centre of mass of the rod is 2.1 m from A A1 [6 Marks]

2. a) Rod is on the point of tilting about X, so there is no reaction at Y M1

RX

θ
6N 7N 14 N
X Y
1.6 m 0.4 m 0.6 m 1.25 m
Take moments about X to exclude reaction at X
Taking clockwise as positive:
Resultant moment about X = (−6)  1.6 + 7  0.4 + 14  (0.4 + 0.6 + 1.25)sin  M1
= −6.8 + 31.5sin  N m clockwise A1
Rod is in equilibrium, so the above moment is zero
 − 6.8 + 31.5sin  = 0
6.8
 sin  =
31.5
 6.8 
So  = arcsin   = 12.4667... = 12.5 (3 s.f.) A1
 31.5 
b) Show that no acute angle  will cause the rod to be on the point of tilting about Y
RY

θ
6N 7N 14 N
X Y
1.6 m 0.4 m 0.6 m 1.25 m
Suppose rod is on the point of tilting about Y, so there is no reaction at X M1
Take moments about Y to ignore reaction at Y
Taking clockwise as positive:
Resultant moment about Y = (−7)  0.6 + (−6)  (0.6 + 0.4 + 1.6) + 14sin  1.25 M1
= −19.8 + 17.5sin  N m clockwise A1
Rod is in equilibrium, so the above moment is zero
 − 19.8 + 17.5sin  = 0
19.8
 sin  = = 1.13142...
17.5
But –1 ≤ sin θ ≤ 1, so no suitable value of θ exists A1 [8 Marks]

Solutions to Test 4.3a – Moments Page 1 of 5 © ZigZag Education, 2018

3. A force diagram is useful here. Let the reaction at the rightmost support be R, then from the question we know the
reaction forces at the left and centre supports are both equal to 2R. Also the weight of the rod is 42  10 N down from
the centre of the rod. Finally, the two fishing lines provide tension forces upwards, one force at an angle α from the
centre with magnitude 3T, say, and one force from halfway between the centre and right supports with magnitude T:

2R 3T 2R T R

1.4 m 0.7 m 0.7 m

420 N
Taking moments about the midpoint, with clockwise as positive: Alternatively: If you are
Resultant moment = 2 R 1.4 − T  0.7 − R 1.4 M1 comfortable resolving forces into
horizontal and vertical
= 1.4 R − 0.7T N m clockwise A1 components, then you can split the
The rod is in equilibrium so this moment is equal to zero tension from Lucy’s line into
1.4R − 0.7T = 0 components then use the fact that
the resultant force in a vertical
 T = 2R A1 direction is zero to get a second
Taking moments about the leftmost end with clockwise as positive: equation
Resultant moment = −3T 1.4sin  − 2 R 1.4 + 420 1.4 − T  2.1 − R  2.8
= 588 − (4.2sin  + 2.1)T − 5.6 R N m clockwise M1
Rod is in equilibrium, so this moment is equal to zero
 (4.2sin  + 2.1)T + 5.6R = 588
We are told in the question that sin α = 5/6, so
 5 
 4.2  + 2.1 T + 5.6 R = 588
 6 
 5.6T + 5.6R = 588
 T + R = 105 M1
Substituting in T = 2R:
2R + R = 105
 3R = 105
105
So R = = 35 N A1
3
Substituting this into T = 2R:
T = 2  35 = 70 N A1 [7 Marks]

Solutions to Test 4.3a – Moments Page 2 of 5 © ZigZag Education, 2018

4. a) A force diagram is useful here. It should include reactions from the wall and floor, e.g. RW and RF; the weight of
the ladder at its midpoint, e.g. 9.8m N; and the frictional force of 24.5 N at the base of the ladder pointing
towards the wall:

lm RW
65°

lm
RF
25°
9.8m N
65°
24.5 N
The ladder is in equilibrium, so the resultant force in any direction is zero
Taking resultant forces in a horizontal direction gives RW = 24.5 N M1
Taking moments about the base of the ladder, with clockwise as positive:
Resultant moment = 9.8m sin 25 l − RW sin 65 2l M1
= 9.8ml sin 25 − 2 RW l sin 65 N m clockwise A1
The ladder is in equilibrium, so this moment is equal to zero:
Tip: If you drew your diagram
 9.8ml sin 25 − 2RW l sin 65 = 0 with the ladder on the right-hand
Rearranging: side, then your resultant moment
2 R l sin 65 RW sin 65 will be anticlockwise. Since the
m= W = resultant moment is in fact zero,
9.8l sin 25 4.9sin 25 this does not affect your answer.
We know from above that RW = 24.5 N, so
24.5sin 65
m= = 10.7225... = 10.7 kg (3 s.f.) A1
4.9sin 25
b) Show that the ladder is no longer in a state of equilibrium

lm RW
65°

lm
RF
25°
9.8m N
65°

Force diagram now has no frictional force around the base of the ladder:
For ladder to be in a state of equilibrium, the resultant force in every direction must be zero
So for ladder to be in a state of equilibrium, must have RW = 0 M1
Then take moments about the base of the ladder:
Resultant moment = 9.8m  l sin 25 − RW  2l sin 65 M1
= 9.8 10.7225...  l sin 25 − 0  2l sin 65
= 44.4090...  l N m clockwise A1
For ladder to be in a state of equilibrium this moment must be zero, hence l = 0
This isn’t the case, so the ladder is not in equilibrium A1 [8 Marks]

Solutions to Test 4.3a – Moments Page 3 of 5 © ZigZag Education, 2018

5. a) By the cosine rule: Tip: For a triangle like this one:
A
c 2 = 52 + 82 − 2  5  8  cos 60 = 49 M1
c b
 c = 49 = 7 m A1
B a C
4 3 recall the cosine rule:
b) Show that sin  =
7
By the sine rule: and the sine rule:
sin  sin 60
= M1
8 7
8sin 60 8 3 4 3
 sin  = = = A1
7 72 7
c) Show that the magnitude, T, of the tension in the chain is greater than 2800 N
A force diagram is useful here. It should include the tension in the chain, T, and the weight of the drawbridge,
6400 N, vertically downwards from its midpoint. There will also be a reaction at the hinge, but its direction is
unknown so it can be represented by vertical and horizontal components, say RV and RH:
T

θ
2.5 m RV
2.5 m
60°
RH 30°
6400 N
We can take moments about the hinge so as to exclude the reaction forces there
Taking clockwise as positive:
Resultant moment = (−6400)  2.5sin 60 + T  5sin  M1
Using the above value for sin θ gives:
20 3
−8000 3 + T N m clockwise A1
7
At this instant the drawbridge is rising, so moving in a clockwise direction about its hinge. Therefore, this
moment must be positive. M1
20 3
 − 8000 3 + T 0
7
20 3
 T  8000 3
7
7
 T  8000 3  = 2800 A1
20 3

Solutions to Test 4.3a – Moments Page 4 of 5 © ZigZag Education, 2018

 d) Redraw the force diagram with an unknown mass m at the midpoint of the drawbridge:
T

θ
2.5 m RV
2.5 m
60°
10m N
RH 30°
6400 N
We can take moments about the hinge so as to ignore the reaction forces there
Taking clockwise as positive:
Resultant moment = (−6400)  2.5sin 60 + (−10m)  2.5sin 60 + T  5sin  M1
Using the above value for sin θ gives:
25 3 20 3
−8000 3 − m+ T N m clockwise A1
2 7
The system is in equilibrium, so this moment is equal to zero
25 3 20 3
 − 8000 3 − m+ T =0
2 7
25 3 20 3
 m= T − 8000 3
2 7
2 20 3 2 8
m =  T−  8000 3 = T − 640 kg A1 [11 Marks]
25 3 7 25 3 35

TOTAL 40 MARKS

Solutions to Test 4.3a – Moments Page 5 of 5 © ZigZag Education, 2018