MOMENT OF A FORCE

A force or system of forces may cause an object to tur

n.
A moment is the turning effect of a force. Moments a
ct about a point in a clockwise or anticlockwise directi
on.
The point chosen could be any point on the object, b
ut the pivot – also known as the fulcrum – is usually c
hosen.
The anticlockwise moment acts downward on the left,
and the clockwise moment acts downwards on the ri
ght
The magnitude of a moment can be calculate
d using the equation:
moment of a force = force × distance


This is when:

moment (M) is measured in newton-metres (Nm)
force (F) is measured in newtons (N)
distance (d) is measured in metres (m)
It is important to remember that the distance (d) is
the normal (perpendicular) distance from the pivot to the line
of action of the force (see diagram).
The Principle of Moments

This is called ‘the principle of moments’

If an object is balanced, the total clockwise moment
about a pivot is equal to the total anticlockwise
moment about that pivot.
The diagrams show two examples of
balanced objects where there is
no rotation.
A ball at the bottom of a trough

A balanced see-saw
An object in equilibrium will not turn or accelerate -
there is no overall (resultant) force and the clockwise
moments are equal to the anticlockwise moments.
For a balanced object, you can calculate:
 the size of a force, or
 the perpendicular distance of a force from the
pivot
Example
A parent and child are at opposite ends of a
playground see-saw. The parent weighs 750 N and
the child weighs 250 N. The child sits 2.4 m from
the pivot. Calculate the distance the parent must
sit from the pivot for the see-saw to be balanced.
Example

A force of 15 N is applied to a door handle, 12 cm from

the pivot. Calculate the moment of the force.
First convert centimetres into metres:
12 cm = 12 ÷ 100 = 0.12 m
Then calculate using the values given in the question
Simple levers and rotation

A simple lever could be a solid beam laid across a

pivot. As effort is applied to rotate one end about
the pivot, the opposite end is also rotated about the
pivot in the same direction. This has the effect of
rotating or lifting the load.
Levers such as this one make use of moments to act
as a force multiplier. They allow a larger force to
act upon the load than is supplied by the effort, so
it is easier to move large or heavy
The longer the lever, and the further the effort acts from
the pivot, the greater the force on the load will be.
For example, it is easier to use a longer spanner when
trying to turn a nut, and easiest to push furthest from the
hinge when opening a door.
Example
A solid beam 0.5 m long is laid across a pivot to form a
simple lever. The pivot is 0.1 m from the end of the beam.
Calculate the heaviest load that could be lifted using a
force of 500 N.
First calculate the moment due to the 500 N force. To
do this, distance will also need to be calculated. To
lift the greatest load, the effort must be applied
furthest from the pivot.
Calculate the greatest distance from the pivot:
0.5 – 0.1 = 0.4 m
Then use the values to calculate the moment
Use the answer above to calculate the maximum
force 0.1 m from the pivot.
Rearrange M = F d to find F
The heaviest load that could be lifted by this
arrangement is 2,000 N. The lever has the effect of
multiplying the force by 5 times – it is a 5× force
multiplier.
Applications of Moments of a Force
Gears
Gears are wheels with toothed edges that rotate on
an axle or shaft. The teeth of one gear fit into the teeth of
another gear. This lets one gear turn the other, meaning one
axle or shaft can be used to turn another shaft.

Rotation and transmission of forces by gears

As one gear turns, the other gear must also turn.
Where the gears meet, the teeth must both move in
the same direction. In the diagram, the teeth of
both gears move upwards. This means that the
gears rotate in opposite directions.
The forces acting on the teeth are identical for both
gears, but their moments are different:
If a larger gear is driven by a smaller gear, the large
gear will rotate slowly but will have a greater
moment. For example, a low gear on a bike or car.
If a smaller gear is driven by a larger gear, the
smaller gear will rotate quickly but will have a
smaller moment. For example, a high gear on a bike
or car.
Example

A gear with a radius of 0.1 m is turned by a gear with a

radius of 0.05 m. The moment of the smaller gear is 20
Nm. Calculate the moment of the larger gear.
First calculate the force on the teeth of the
smaller gear.
Rearrange M = F d to find F:
Use the answer above to calculate the moment of
the larger gear:
Turning a gear that has double the radius doubles the
turning effect – it is a 2× force multiplier.
Reducing unwanted energy
transfer

Any surfaces in contact in a machine will dissipate

energy through friction. This can be reduced
using lubrication so that the machine transfers
energy more efficiently and there is less wear on the
moving parts.
Contacting machine parts can be lubricated by
adding an oily or greasy liquid that holds the surfaces
apart a little, and allows them to slide past each other
with less friction between them, as with oil in a car
engine, for example.