Experiment No.

Objective:
To investigate the principle of balancing of moments
Apparatus:
Moment Apparatus, Centrally supported symmetrical lever, Displaceable supported slides, Set of
weights, Weight hangers, Spirit Level.
Theory:
The balance of moments is analogous to the balance of forces. An object is in the state of rest or
uniform movement when the sum of the external moments affecting it is equal to zero.
M = 0 = M1 + M2 + M3 + ..
Using the lever as an example, this means that the moments produced by the forces affecting the
lever must balance themselves with respect to a reference point.

M = 0 = F1x1 + F2x2 + F3x3 + .

The lever arm xi must be counted positively from the reference point in one co-ordinate direction.
The left end of the lever was selected as the reference point in the illustration. Any other point is
also possible.
For the special situation that only two forces affect opposite ends of the lever, it is possible to
reformulate the balance of moments with respect to the lever principle. The reference point then
becomes the actual fulcrum of the lever. The lever principle is used to compare two forces.

F1a = F2b

Similarly in case of three forces, (for the figure shown in apparatus setup)
F1x1 = F2x2 + F3x3

(All the distances i.e., x1, x2, x3 are taken from pivot point)

Apparatus Setup:

Procedure:
1. Place the slide on the selected lever arm and suspend weight hangers with the selected
weight.
2. Set the second slide on the other side of the lever arm and suspend a weight hanger from
it. Add the desired weight.
3. Shift the second slide until the lever is balanced.
4. Read the second lever arm at the slide and compare with the theoretical result.
5. Similarly for balancing three forces, repeat the above experiment by settingone weight
hanger on one side of the lever and hanging two weight hangers on the other side. In this
situation, the system will follow the following equation.
F1x1 = F2x2 + F3x3
Observations and Calculations:
For two forces:
Sr.
No.

1
2
3
4
5

Load Applied
F1 (N)

Load Applied
F2 (N)

Distance
x1 (mm)

Distance
x2 (mm)

F1x1
(N-mm)

F2x2
(N-mm)

Difference
F1x1-F2x2

% Error

For three forces:

Sr.
No.

Load
Load
Load
Distance
Applied Applied Applied x1 (mm)
F1 (N)
F2 (N)
F3 (N)

1
2
3
4
5

Conclusions:

Distance
x2 (mm)

Distance
F1x1
F2x2
F3x3
x3 (mm) (N-mm) (N-mm) (N-mm)

Difference
F1x1(F2x2+F3x3)

%
Error