Module 9

Rotational Kinetics
Rotational kinetics deals with the cause of rotation.  In order to cause rotation in an object, torque must be
applied.  If the applied torque causes rotation, the relation between the applied torque and the pace of generated
rotation is the basis of rotational kinetics.  If rotation does not occur, the torque applied is often referred to as
"moment."  The first topic to study is “the moment of a force."

Torque or Moment of a Force

When a force is applied to the handle of a wrench (normally perpendicular to it), the product of the force and
the perpendicular distance it has from the center of the bolt is called the torque or moment of that force. 
Mathematically, torque is the product of force and perpendicular distance, or torque is the product of
perpendicular force and distance.  Torque may be either clockwise (CW), or counterclockwise (CCW).  By
convention, CCW is usually taken to be positive, and thus CW is negative; therefore, torque is a vector quantity.
 

Anyone who has ever opened a door has an understanding of torque. When a person opens a door, they push on
the side of the door farthest from the hinges. Pushing on the side closest to the hinges requires considerably
more force. Although the work done is the same in both cases the larger force would be applied over a smaller
distance.

Figure 1: Opening a door with maximum torque.

Torque can be either static or dynamic.

A static torque is one which does not produce an angular acceleration. Someone pushing on a closed door is
applying a static torque to the door because the door is not rotating about its hinges, despite the force applied.
Someone pedaling a bicycle at constant speed is also applying a static torque because they are not accelerating.
The drive shaft in a racing car accelerating from the start line is carrying a dynamic torque because it must be
producing an angular acceleration of the wheels given that the car is accelerating along the track.

Engineers sometimes use the term moment, or moment of force interchangeably with torque. The radius at
which the force acts is sometimes called the moment arm

Example 1:  A car weighing 2000 N on a bridge is 6m from one of the bridge piers and 4m from the other. How
much force does each pier of the bridge exert to support the car?
Given: Find:
W = 2000 N F on each pier of the bridge
d1 = 4m
d2 = 6m
Solution:
∑ τ = 0, ∑ Fx = 0, ∑ Fy = 0No force along X
∑ Fy = 0
F1 + F2 – W = 0
Assuming the point where F1 acts on a pivot point. In this case F1 will cause no turning effect, so τ1
due to F1 is equal to zero.
τ2 = F2 (d1+d2)
= F2 (10m)

τ2 = -w (d1)
= -2000N (4m)
= - 8000 Nm
Applying second law: ∑ τ = 0
τ2 + τw = 0
F2 (10m) – 8000 Nm = 0
F2 (10m) = 8000 Nm
F2 = 800 N

In the equation obtain from the first condition; the value of F2 is substituted.
F1 + F2 – W = 0
F1 + 800 N – 2000 N = 0
F1 = 2000 N – 800 N
F1 = 1200 N
If the point at F2 is chosen as the pivot point, F1 will be found first.
Example 2:  In the figure shown, find the torque of force (F) about point A, the point at which the beam is fixed
into the wall.

If more than one force is generating torque on an object, then the sum of torques or the net torque should be
calculated.
Example 3:  In the figure shown, find the net torque of the forces shown about point A, the point at which the
beam is fixed into the wall.

            In this problem the net tendency of rotation is clockwise as the (-) sign in  -11.5Nm indicates.
Example 4:  In the figure shown, find the net torque of the forces shown about point B, the point at which the
beam is fixed into the wall.

          
   In this problem the net tendency of rotation is clockwise as the (-) sign in  -25Nm  indicates.

Example 5:  In the figure shown, find the torque of force F about point A.

         

 
As you may have noticed, it is possible to draw a perpendicular line from Point A to vector 25N sin540.  The
length of the perpendicular line becomes 1.6m.  If you decide to draw a perpendicular line from A to vector 25N
cos540, you need to first extend the vector from its tail to the left.  Doing this makes the extension to pass
through A.  Point A falls on the extended vector and makes the perpendicular line to have a length of 0.0

Rotational Equilibrium
An object is said to be in rotational equilibrium if the net torque acting on it is zero that means Σ τ = 0.  The
torque sum may be taken about any single point on the object or out of it.  It is usually taken about a point for
which perpendicular distances from all acting forces are convenient to calculate. Σ τ =0 means that the sum of
CW torques equals the sum of CCW torques; in other words, the total CW tendency of rotation is equal to the
total CCW tendency of rotation.
 

Example 1:  In the figure shown, find F such that the seesaw is rotational equilibrium that means it is neither
rotating cw nor cc

Example 2:  A simple machine is used to lift heavy load in a machine shop. The force exerted is just e the end
of the road is 100N is just enough to keep the load in a balanced condition. The small wheel has a diameter of
30 cm while the bigger one has 80 cm. how heavy is the load?
The Center of Mass of Uniform Objects
The center of mass of an object is the point that all of its mass can be assumed to be concentrated at.  For
geometrically symmetric objects, such as rectangular boxes, spheres, cylinders, etc., geometric center is easily
determined.  Geometric center is the same thing as the center of symmetry.  If the material of an object is
uniformly distributed throughout its volume to where it has the same mass density everywhere, the geometric
center and the mass center are the same point in that object. For a uniform and rectangular plank of wood, the
geometric center or mass center is at its midpoint.  It means that all of the mass of such plank can be assumed to
be concentrated at its geometric center or its middle. 

Example 1. A beam 3 m long has a weight of 100 N at one end and another weight of 50 N at the other hand
end. The weight of the beam is negligible. Find the balance of the point of the beam.

The supporting force F acts at the balance point which serves as the fulcrum, thus F exerted no torque. To
determine the balance point of the beam, the second condition is applied.

Given:
r, l, d = 3m
W1 = 50 N
W2 = 100 N
Solution:
Στ=0
τ1 – τ2 = 0
(50 N) (3m – x) – (100 N) (x) = 0
 150 Nm – (50 N) (x) – (100 N) (x) = 0
150 Nm = (150 N) (x)
x = 1 m, the balance point is 1 meter from the left end.

Activity #

1. In the figure shown, an 8 m long 550 N heavy uniform plank of wood is pivoted 2 m off its middle at P to
form an unbalanced seesaw.  It is then loaded with a 420N force as shown.  Find the magnitude of F that keeps
the plank in rotational equilibrium.

2. In the figure shown, a force of 300.N is applied on the lever at A.  Find the reaction force F that the crate
exerts on the lever at B.

3. Two masses hang below a mass less meter stick. Mass 1 is located at the 10cm mark with a weight of 15kg,
while mass 2 is located at the 60cm mark with a weight of 30kg. At what point in between the two masses must
the string be attached in order to balance the system?