TURNING EFFECT OF FORCES, CENTRE OF GRAVITY  Straight lines are drawn through AA, BB and CC.

The point of
intersection of these lines gives the centre of gravity (C.G).
Centre of gravity
Centre of gravity is a point on the body through which the weight of the
body acts.
Centre of gravity of regular objects
Regular objects are those that have defined shapes e.g. rectangular,
square, circular objects etc.
The centre of gravity of such objects is found by simply balancing them
on straight edges.
The balancing positions are marked and where they intersect is the
centre of gravity.
e.g.

OBJECT Centre Of Gravity

Uniform rod (e.g. metre rule) Centre of rod (50cm mark for Metre rule)
Square/rectangular sheet Intersection of diagonals
Circular sheet Centre of sheet
Triangular sheet Centroid STABILITY
Sphere Centre of sphere The stability of a body depends on entirely two factors namely:-
cylinder Midpoint of axis i) Position of the centre of gravity.
ii) Size of base area.
Centre of Gravity of Irregular Objects
 Three holes A, B, C are made at different points near the edge To increase the stability of on a body, the following should be done.
of the lamina.  Increase the base area.
 The lamina is suspended through hole A and the plumbline is  Lower the centre of gravity by making the base heavier
hung freely through the same hole as shown below .
 The point where the thread touches the opposite side of edge of Types of stability equilibria
the lamina is marked A.  Stable equilibrium
 The procedure is repeated for hole B and C to get markings B  Unstable equilibrium
and C.  Neutral equilibrium

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 Illustration

Stable equilibrium
This occurs when the centre of gravity is in the lowest possible position Push
The body doesn’t over turn when slightly displaced but returns to its
original position after the displacement.
When slightly displaced, the centre of gravity is raised and the line of
action of the weight acts with in the base.
Moment decreases when a body is slightly displaced.

Unstable equilibrium
This occurs when the centre of gravity is in the highest position. The Stable Unstable
body overturns when slightly displaced. Equilibrium Equilibrium
When the centre of gravity is lowered and the line of action of the
weight acts outside the base.

Natural equilibrium
This is when a body is slightly displaced but the position of its centre of
Neutral
gravity remains at the same height.
Equilibrium

THE TURNING EFFECT OF A FORCE

The turning effect of a force is the moment of force. This is practically
applied in opening a door, window, see-saw, using spanners, weighing
balances etc.
Moment of a force about a point depends on
i) The size of force
ii) The perpendicular distance from a line of action of force from the
pivot.
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 ii) Ant clockwise moment
Moment of a force is force x perpendicular distance These are moments that produce anti-clock wise turning effects.
M f x d where M is moment of force, f is the force and d is the
perpendicular distance.

Definition
Moment of a force about a point is the product of the force and the
perpendicular distance of its line of action from the pivot S.I unit is Nm

ILLUSTRATION

Examples
State the type of moment and calculate the moment of force.
(a) (b)

(c) (d)

Moment of force about p

Types of moments
i) Clock wise moment
These are moments produce clockwise turning effects

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Static Equilibrium (Mechanical Equilibrium)
A body acted upon by a number of several forces in a static equilibrium
when sum of clock wise moment about any point = sum of anti clock
wise about the same point.

Sum of clock wise moments sum of anti clockwise moments.

F2 X d2 F1 X d1

Application of principal of moments

 Action of a beam balance / weighing scale.
If AB is in equilibrium then:-  Action of a sea saw.
1. Sum of upward forces = sum of downward forces  Determination of centre of gravity of a beam
 In determination of mass of the weight of a beam.
i.e.
 In determination of relative density of a solid.
2. Sum of clockwise sum of anti clockwise moments
Examples
F1AP F2CP + F3DP + F4EP 1. Forces of 8Np and 4n act on a body as shown.
Conditions of a body to be in a mechanical equilibrium
1. The resultant force on body must be zero
2. The sum of clock wise moment about a point must be equal to the
sum of anti clock wise moments about the same point.

PRINCIPAL OF MOMENTS
It states that for a body in equilibrium, the sum of clockwise moments
about a point is equal to the sum of anti clockwise moments about the Find the value of P if the system is in equilibrium.
same point. Anti clock wise moment = clock wise moment
4 x 40 + p x 20 8 x 30
P 4N

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2. Forces below act on the plant as shown.

Examples of a couple
 Handle bars of a bicycle
 Pedals of a bicycle
 Steering wheel of a car
If the body is in equilibrium find the distance
 Turning the lid of a container
Anti clockwise clockwise moment
6 x 2 + 4 x1 = 8 x  Opening and closing a tap
X 2m  Key in a key hole
 Etc
3. What weight placed 15cm from the pivot will balance a 2kg mass
placed 12 cm from the pivot? (W 16N) Torque is the product of one of the forces and the perpendicular
distance between the forces. That is the moment due to the couple.
4. Given that the following arrangement is in equilibrium Torque one the forces X perpendicular distance between the forces.

Example

(i) Calculate the anticlockwise moment about P

(ii) What is the total clockwise moment about P
(iii) Determine the value of the weight E. Torque = 20 X 2
= 40Nm
Couples and Torque
A couple are two equal, parallel and opposite forces which act on a
body and produce rotation.

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Trial questions  Again balance AB horizontally on a knife edge with a mass M
1. A sea-saw is balanced at its centre. A girl weighing 300N is 2m from at point d as shown in the diagram
the pivot. A boy 200N sitting at one end of the sea-saw balances the  Measure distance and .
girl. Find the length of the sea-saw.
 Calculate the mass, m from sum of clockwise moment = sum of
2. A uniform metre rule is balanced at the 30cm mark when a mass of
anticlockwise moments.
60g is hanging from its 0 cm mark. Calculate the weight of the ruler.
3. A metre rule is balanced by masses 18g and 12g suspended from its
mg x a Mg x b
ends. Find the position of the pivot.
4. A uniform metre rule weighing 1.2N has a weight of 0.8 N
suspended at the 90cm mark. At what mark is the rule supported by m
the knife edge.
5. A teacher of mass 75kg sits 1m from one end of a Sea-saw which is
5m long. The sea-saw is in equilibrium two form 1 students each of
mass 40kg sit on the opposite side. Determine how far apart the To get the weight of the beam
students must sit, given that one of them is 0.5m from the end of the
See-saw.

Determination of mass of a beam or rod or any straight material

Setup

Procedure
 Locate the centre of gravity of the beam AB by balancing it
horizontally on a knife edge.
 Note the position of the centre of gravity, G.

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