Balanced Forces

Levers
Write out the
statements that are
true.
• a The longer the lever, the bigger the
force that is needed to move an object.
• b It is easier to close a door if you push
the door close to the hinge
• c The shorter the lever, the bigger the
force that is needed to move an object
• d Joints are examples of pivots.
• e Bones are examples of levers.
C, D and E
 Learning Objective
To investigate, through
practical experimentation,
the principle of moments.
 Recording your results

• What do we need to record?

• How many columns will we need in our
table?
Recording your results
 Weight and Mass

YouTube
- Eureka! Episode 6 - Gravity

• YouTube
- Eureka! Episode 7 - Weight vs. Mass
Racing Balls
 Write out each term along with its
correct description
n t unbalanced bala
me nced
mo system syst
em
Descriptions
• anticlockwise moments = clockwise
moments
• two boys of different weights sit opposite
each other on a see saw, both the same
distance from the pivot Lever Principle
GCSE PHYSICS:
• the turning effect of a force Moments
 Moment calculation
Gina weighs 500 N and stands on one end of a seesaw.
She is 0.5 m from the pivot.
What moment does she exert?
moment = 500 x 0.5
= 250 Nm
0.5 m

500 N

pivot
 Moment equation
The moment of a force is given by the equation:

moment = force (N) x distance from pivot (cm or m)

moment

f x d

Moments are measured in Newton centimetres (Ncm) or

Newton metres (Nm).
 Principle of moments

The girl on the left exerts
an anti-clockwise moment,
which equals...
her weight x her distance
from pivot
The girl on the right exerts
a clockwise moment,
which equals...
her weight x her distance
from pivot
 Principle of moments

If the anticlockwise moment and clockwise moment are

equal then the see-saw is balanced. This is known as the
principle of moments.
When something is balanced about a pivot:
total clockwise moment = total anticlockwise moment
 Principle of moments –
calculation
Two girls are sitting on opposite sides of on a see-saw.
One girl weighs 200 N and is 1.5 m from the pivot. Where
must her 150 N friend sit if the seesaw is to balance?

When the see-saw is balanced:

total clockwise moment = total anticlockwise moment

200 N x 1.5 m = 150 N x distance

200 x 1.5 = distance
150
distance of second girl = 2 m
Anagrams
 Why don’t cranes fall over?
Tower cranes are essential at any major construction site.

trolley
load arm

counterweight

loading platform
tower

Concrete counterweights are fitted to the crane’s short arm.

Why are these needed for lifting heavy loads?
 Why don’t cranes fall over?
Using the principle of moments, when is the crane balanced?

3m
6m

? 10,000 N

moment of = moment of
load counterweight

If a 10,000 N counterweight is three metres from the

tower, what weight can be lifted when the loading
platform is six metres from the tower?
 Why don’t cranes fall over?
moment of = load x distance of load from tower
load
= ? x 6

moment of = counterweight x distance of counterweight

counterweight from tower
= 10,000 x 3
= 30,000 Nm

moment of load = moment of counterweight

? x 6 = 30,000
? = 3,000
6
? = 5,000 N
 Crane operator activity
Where should the loading platform be on the loading arm
to carry each load safely?