3.

Turning effects of forces (Moments)

When a force is applied to a pivoted body it makes it to turn. The turning effect of a force is called its moment.
The moment (turning effect) of a force is large when
 the force applie d is large
 the perpendicular distance of the pivot from the line of action of the force is large
Examples
1. it is easy to unscrew a nut with a long spanner than with a short one
2. a door is more easily closed when one pushes furthest from the hinges.

Levers: A lever is a simple machine where a small effort is applied at a long distance from the pivot to move a heavy
weight attached to at a short distance from the pivot. The moment produced by the small load will be large enough to
overcome the one caused by the load.

Every day examples of levers include; spanner, wheel barrow and digging fork.(give 3 more)

Moment of a force: by definition

The moment of a force is the product of the force and the perpendicular distance of the pivot from the line of action of
force.

MOMENTS

The turning effect of a force depends on the value of the force applied and how far away is the line of application from
the pivot or turning point/fulcrum. For example;
a) A see-saw turns to the side where the Earth’s pull is greater.
b) A beam balance turns to the side where the weight of the masses is greater.
c) A spanner turns due to the force applied at its free end.
d) It is easier to loosen or tighten a nut with a long spanner than a short one.
e) The handle of the door is placed far from the hinges so that a small effort is applied to open or close it.
All of the above examples show application of moments in levers- simple machine.

‘Moment is the product of the force and perpendicular distance from the pivot to the line of application of the force’.
Mathematically expressed as

|moment of forceabout a po int=force×distancefrom pivot toline of actionof the force|

Moment=F׿d
Example

The principle of Moments

The figure below can be used to investigate the principle of moments. It consists of bar of negligible weight supported at
its cenTRE

Forces can be applied to the bar on either side of the pivot by hanging standard masses from different points.
The positions of the forces are then adjusted such that the bar is in state of balance or equilibrium. constant
The distances are accurately measured using a suitable measuring ruler.
The forces applied is equal to the weight of the standard masses and can be calculated using the expression,
Weight , W =mass , m(in kg )×gravitational field constant,g

W =mg
Using the measurements shown above the moments are then calculated as;
Moment=Force×dis tan ce from pivot

Anti clockwise moment about O

=F 1×d 1
=0.6 N×0.5m
¿0.3 Nm
Clockwise moment about O
=F 2 ×d 2
=1.0N×0.3m
¿0.3 Nm
Q `Conclusion: The example above illustrates that anticlockwise moment about O is equal to the
clockwise moment about O. The anticlockwise turning balances the clockwise turning.
Note: The Upward force has no moment about O because it acts at the pivot (i.e its distance from the pivot is 0m)
The situation in the figure below is a little complicated, but once again the positions of the forces are such that the bar
balances.
total anti clockwise moment about O =20 N×0.3m
=6.0Nm
total clockwise moment about O =40N×0.1m+5 N×0.4 m
=4.0Nm+2.0 Nm
=6.0 Nm
Note: the distance of 5 N force from the pivot is 0.1 m + 0.3 m = 0.4 m

This shows that it is true that the resultant anticlockwise moment is equal to the resultant clockwise moment. This
means when ADDED together, the clockwise moments about O balance the anticlockwise moments about O.
Both these examples illustrate the principle of moments. This state that; When an object is in equilibrium, the sum of
the anticlockwise moments about any point is equal to the sum of the clockwise moments about that same point.