TURNING EFFECTS OF FORCES

 Moments
 Everyday Examples
 Principle of Moments
 Example Numericals

Prepared by:
Ume Hafsa
Let’s take an example of a door
Why does the boy require more effort to pull the doorknob, when it is nearer
to the hinge?
• The force needed to pull a door open depends on where it is applied
• Picture A: A large pull (force) is applied on the doorknob when applied
nearer to the hinge.
• Picture B: A small pull (force) is applied on the doorknob, when applied far
from the hinge.
SMALL MOMENT LARGE MOMENT
The distance from the hinge to the The distance from the hinge to the
line of action of force is very small line of action of force is large
 Moments
• Turning effect of a force about a pivot is called moment.
• The moment of a force (or torque) is the product of the
force (F) and the perpendicular distance (d) from the pivot
to the line of action.
• The moment of a force can be
calculated using the formula:
Moment of a force = Force × perpendicular distance from the pivot to the force

• Force is measured in Newton (N)

• Distance is measured in centimetres (cm) or metres (m)
• Hence the unit of Moments of a Force will be:

OR
Everyday Examples

SCISSORS
WHEELBARROW

FOREARM SPANNER
Worked Example
A boy loses the nut using 25 cm long spanner. He applied 50N of force
on the spanner. Calculate the moment of a force produce in Nm

Solution:
First convert cm to m

Now apply the formula for moments

 Principle of Moments
• The principle of moments states that when a body is in equilibrium the
total sum of the anti clockwise moment is equal to the total sum of the
clockwise moment, about the same pivot
In equilibrium:
Total Anticlockwise Moment = Total Clockwise Moment

The green girl exerts an anti-

clockwise moment equal to

The yellow girl exerts a clockwise

moment equal to

If the two moments are equal then the seesaw is balanced. This is
known as the principle of moments.
Conditions for Equilibrium
When a beam is balanced, we say that is in equilibrium. If
an object is in equilibrium:
• the forces on it must be balanced (no resultant force)
• the turning effects of the forces on it must also be
balanced (no resultant turning effect).
 Worked Example
The diagram shows a uniform half-metre rule balanced at its mid-point. What
is the weight of the metal block?

Solution:

Hence the weight of the metal block is 75N.