Mass ‘Mass is measured in kilograms (kg). ‘The mass of 1.0kg cannot be defined because itis a fundamental unit in the SI system. ‘Mass is a measure of a body's ‘resistance’ to changes in its velocity. Mass is a constant and does not depend on where the mass is situated. Mass is a scalar quantity. Force A force causes an object to change shape. A force causes an object to accelerate. The unit of force is the newton, symbol N. 1 newton is that force required to give a mass of 1 kilogram an acceleration of 1 metre per second squared in the direction of the force. Force = mass x acceleration (F = ma). Force is a vector quantity. Weight Weight is the effect of a gravitational field on a mass. Weight, W, is related to mass, m, and acceleration of free fall, , by W= mg. Weight is a variable quantity, unlike mass, being dependent on the acceleration of free fall (the gravitational field strength), Weight is a vector quantity Weight is measured in newtons (N). Centre of gravity The centre of gravity (CG) of an object is the point at which the whole weight of the ‘object appears to act. Moment of a force The moment of a force is equal to the product of the force and the perpendicular distance of the line of action of the force from the pivot. Moment isa vector quantity — direction is either clockwise or anticlockwise. ‘The SI unit for the moment of a force is the newton metre (Nm). ie ease q Pivot, P ‘Moment about ina clockwise direction Moment about P = Fad sing inan anticlockwise direction AS/A-Level Physics Statics & Dynamics philip Allan Updates SLEquilibrium ‘* When a body is in equilibrium, itis either at rest or is moving at constant velocity and/or is turing at constant speed. ‘* There are two conditions for an object to be in equilibrium: = the vector sum of the forces acting on the object in any direction is zero ~ the sum of the clockwise moments about any point is equal to the sum of the antilock- wise moments about the same point ‘* The second condition is known as the principle of moments. Sxample ‘A.uniform lamina has the shape shown below. Determine the position of its centre of gravity 8 c Gem| a} sen Enswer The centre of gravity will fie on the axis of symmetry AB. The weight of any section will be proportional to its surface area. Let the weight per unit area be m. ‘Area BCFG has weight 12m and centre of gravity 1.0cm from A ‘Area DHIE has weight 8m and centre of gravity 6.0cm from A. Area JKLM has weight 9m and centre of gravity 11.5¢m from A, The whole area has weight 29m. Let its centre of gravity be x cm from A. Then, taking moments about A, (29m x x) = (12m x 1.0) + (8m x 6.0) + (9m x 11.5) x= 5.6m The centre of gravity is 5.6m from A on the line AB. 2] acm Philip Allan Updates 52 ASfécevel Physics Statics & Dynamicssen TOPICA: Couple and torque ‘A couple consists of two forces, equal in magnitude but opposite in direction. The lines of action are not coincident, i.e. they are parallel. See below. ‘The couple has a turning effect about a point midway between the two forces. ‘The tuming effect of a couple is known as the torque of the couple. Torque of a couple = (Fx 4d) + (Fx4d) = Fa The torque of a couple is equal to the pro dicular distance between the two forces. duct of one of the forces and the perpen- ‘phil Alanupdates 53‘ToRIC4 IS ample A uniform rod of length 100 cm rest f on a smooth hori ie ‘od in the directions shown in the diagram below. rsora able Frese ppg (@) Calculate: (the resultant moment acting on the rod about its centre C (ii) the couple required to prevent the rod turning (Gi) the force, applied normal to the rod at each end, to prevent rotation (b) State the direction in which the rod would move when the couple in (a) has been applied. nswer (@)() Moment of 80N force 2200 Nem clockwise Moment of 60N force 200 Nem anticlockwise Moment of 45N force = 45sin40° x 40 = 1157 Nem anticlockwise Total moment about C = 443 Nem clockwise Gi) couple = 443 Nem anticlockwise Gi) 403 = Fx 50) x2 force = 4.43N (b) The rod will not turn Component of force normal to rod = 80 + 60 + 45sin40" = 169N Component of force along rod = 45c0s40* = 34.5N From the diagram, 169 345 0-785" tan ‘The rod would move to the right and at an angle of 78.5° to its length. 169N Resultant AS/sclevel Physics Statics & DynamicsQuestions 1 AS/A-Level Physics Statles & Dynamics Calculate the resultant force acting on a car of mass 900 kg for it to have an acceleration of 2.5ms?, ‘A rocket motor produces a constant accelerating force. The motor burns fuel in oxygen. The fuel and the oxygen are stored in the rocket. Suggest what happens to the acceleration of the rocket as the fuel is bumed. {A cyclist pedals so that he produces a constant accelerating force of 65N. The mass of the cyclist and his cycle is 90kg. The cyclist moves off from rest. Calculate: (a) the acceleration of the cyclist (b) his speed after pedalling for 4.05 c) the distance travelled during the first 4.0 seconds ‘A uniform plank of mass 30 kg rests on two supports, as shown below. 2.00m ‘A weight of 500NN rests on the plank a distance of 60cm from one of its ends. Calculate the force exerted by each support on the plank. Assume that the acceleration of free fall is toms? ‘wo uniform spheres have diameters of 20cm and 14cm. They are connected by a cylindrical rod of length 40cm and diameter 4m. The rod lies along the line joining the centres of the two spheres. The spheres and the rod are all made of the same material. Determine the position, of the centre of gravity of the arrangement. ‘Philip allan Updates. SSeT FAS moments eee 6 A rod of length 60cm has a disc of radius 12m fixed at its centre, as shown below. 30m ‘Two forces, each of magnitude 40N, are applied normal to the rod at each end so that they ( produce a turning effect on the rod. (a) Calculate the torque produced by the two 40N forces. (b) A rope is attached to the edge of the disc. Calculate the minimum tension in the rope to prevent the disc rotating. J The diagram below shows a number of discs placed on a smooth horizontal table, @ F o For each disc, state qualitatively the type of motion that the dise will perform when under the action of the forces shown. AS/Acavel Physics States Dynamics nip alan Updates 56