Moments

We use moments when an object might be made to turn about a point. We can work out which direction it will turn in. Moments are very useful however for working out unknown forces or distances, if the system in question is in equilibrium, so that

Sum of Clockwise Moments = Sum of Anticlockwise Moments

Example: Suppose we want to work out the force F below for the system in equilibrium.

The pivot or balance point is O so it is natural to take moments about O. We can draw up the following table.

Force/N

Distance From O/m

Force Times Distance/N m

Clockwise or Anticlockwise

50

2.5

125

Anticlockwise

20

1.5

30

Clockwise

100

1.2

120

Clockwise

F

3.7

3.7 F

Anticlockwise

The sum of the clockwise moments is 150 Nm and the sum of the anticlockwise moments is 125+3.7 F Nm. Equating these gives

to 2 decimal places.

Example: We want to find x in the diagram below for the system in equilibrium. As before, O labels the balance or pivot point so we take moments about O.

The table is

Force/N

Distance from O/m

Force times Distance/Nm

Clockwise or Anticlockwise

10

2.5

25

Anticlockwise

15

1

15

Anticlockwise

50

1.4

70

Clockwise

15

1.4+x

21+15x

Anticlockwise

The sum of the clockwise moments is 70 Nm and the sum of the anticlockwise moments is 25+15+21+15x=61+15x Nm. Equating these gives

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