TURNING EFFECT OF

FORCE( MOMENTS)
• Moment of a force is a product of a force and the
perpendicular distance of the line of action of the force from the
fulcrum (pivot).
• SI unit of moment is a newton meter (Nm).

• Moment of a force is a vector quantity.

• Examples of the turning effects of a force;
• Pushing a swing makes it rotate about its pivot

• Playing on a see-saw

• Bending of the fore arm of a hand

• Applying a force on a spanner to rotate a nut

• A force applied on a door handle and the door swings about its hinge
• Example;1

• A force of 12N is applied to open a door handle, which is 0.8m from

the hinges of the door. Calculate the moment of the force produced
• Example;2

• The moment of a force is 4Nm in the clockwise direction when the lid
of a tin is opened. Calculate the vertical force applied, if the
perpendicular distance from the hinges is 40cm.
 Factors affecting moments

• The moment of the force depends on the:-

i) magnitude of a force

ii) Perpendicular distance from the turning point (fulcrum).

Law or principle of moments

• This states that when body is in a state of equilibrium the sum of

clockwise moments about any point is equal to the sum anticlockwise
moments about the same point.
• Experiment to verify the principle of moments.
• The metre rule is balanced horizontally on a knife-
edge and its centre of gravity, G noted.

• Un equal masses m1 and m2 are hung from cotton

loops on either sides of the rule.

• The distances of the masses are then adjusted until

the rule balances horizontally once again. The
distances d1 and d2 are measured and recorded.
•  The experiment is repeated several times and the results
tabulated including values of w1d1 and w2d2.

• It is found that; =. Where w2d2 is the clockwise moment and

w1d1 is the anticlockwise moment. This verifies the principle
of moments.