Moments and Levers

The turning effect of a force is called a “moment”.

We work it out using Moment = Force x Distance.
The force must be in Newtons (N), the distance in metres
(m), and we measure moments in “Newton Metres”(Nm)
Sometimes the distance may be in (cm) in SATs questions.

Answer these :-
2 metres
1. What is the moment of this force ?
pivot 6 Newtons

1.5 metres
2. What is the moment of this force?

pivot 3 Newtons
3. What is the length of this lever if ?? metres
the moment is 8 Nm ?

pivot 2 Newtons

For a see-saw to balance, the moments on each side must be the same.
For each of these, write “balanced” or “unbalanced”.

10kg 5kg 10kg 15kg

4. 5.
1m 2m 12m 8m

20kg 15kg 2kg 3kg

6. 7.
8m 11m 8m 5m

All of these see-saws are balanced. Work out the missing number for each one.

40kg 50kg 7kg ??kg

8. 9.
10m ?? 10m 5m
m
??kg 15kg 12kg 28kg
10. 11.
15m 3m 140m ??m