Engineering mechanics

Lecture 5:

Moment of a force about a point

Dr. MUSLIM MUHSIN ALI

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 Objectives
After studying this Lecture, you will be able to

 Define the moment of a force about a point

 Determine the moment of a force about a point

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 1. the moment of a force about a point
In general, a force acting on a rigid body tends to rotate, as well as translate, the body.
The force itself is the translational effect—the body tends to move in the direction of
the force, and the magnitude of the force is proportional to its ability to translate the
body. (The formal statement of this relationship is Newton’s second law: Force equals
mass times acceleration.) Here we introduce the tendency of a force to rotate a body,
called the moment of a force about a point. This rotational effect depends on the
magnitude of the force and the distance between the point and the line of action of the
force. The tendency of a force to rotate a body about an axis, called the moment of a
force about an axis, is discussed in the next article.

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1. the moment of a force about a point

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1. the moment of a force about a point

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 1. the moment of a force about a point
Ex: Knowing that the distance AB is 250 mm determine the maximum
moment about (B)which can be caused by the (150 N ) force. In what
direction should the force act?

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 1. the moment of a force about a point
Ex: Find the distance ( Y ) if the moment of the forces system shown in fig. is equal to
(
12750N.m ) about the point ( O ).

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 1. the moment of a force about a point
Ex: Forces of ( 4 N & 6 N ) act on the lamina ABCD as shown in fig . Find the total
moments of these forces about the point ( O).

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 1. the moment of a force about a point
Ex: A force F of magnitude 60 N is applied to the gear Determine the moment of F
about point O.

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 1. the moment of a force about a point
Ex: Two like parallel forces of 50 N and 100 N act at the ends of a rod 360 mm
long. Find the magnitude of the resultant force and the point where it acts.

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 Homework
1. A beam 3 m long weighing 400 N is suspended in a horizontal position by two
vertical strings, each of which can withstand a maximum tension of 350 N only. How
far a body of 200 N weight be placed on the beam, so that one of the strings may just
break ?

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 Homework
2. Two unlike parallel forces of magnitude 400 N and 100 N are acting in such a
way that their lines of action are 150 mm apart. Determine the magnitude of the
resultant force and the point at which it acts.

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