MOMENTS OF FORCE

1. Moment of a force is defined as the product of force and perpendicular distance between the
point of rotation and line of action of force. Moment of force = force x perpendicular distance
between line of action of force and point of rotation .

2.Moment of force is measure of the turning effect of a force produced on a body about an axis of
rotation .

3. S. I. unit of moment of force is newton – metre [ N –m ]

4. Moment of a force is a vector quantity . It is always perpendicular to the plane containing the
force and perpendicular distance between the point of rotation and line of action of force.

5.Anticlockwise moment is referred as positive while clockwise moment is referred as negative. The
direction of moment of force depends on (i) Direction of the force applied (ii) the point at which
force applied .

6.A pair of parallel forces of equal magnitudes but of different lines of action of force is called a
couple .

7. A couple can’t produce translational motion in a body as the resultant force due a couple is 0.
Moments of forces constituting the couple are in the same direction ,so it produces rotational
motion in a body .

8.For constant torque force is inversely proportional to the length of moment arm .

Force α 1/ moment arm .

9. Moment of couple = Either force x perpendicular distance between the lines of actions of forces .

10. A body is said to be in equilibrium if it is either at rest or moving with uniform speed under the
action of several forces .

11. Conditions for equilibrium ( a) Net force acting on the body should be zero (b) Net moment of
force acting on the body about the axis should be zero .

12. Static equilibrium is an equilibrium in which body is at rest under the application of several
forces . Example : (i) A book placed on a table as the weight of the book is balanced by normal
reaction from the surface of the table . (ii) A beam balance with its axis horizontal as net moment of
force about the pointer is zero .

13. Dynamic equilibrium is an equlibriiium in which a body moves with uniform speed under the
action of several forces . Example : ( I) raindrops fall with uniform speed as the net force on the
raindrops is zero because the weight of the raindrop is balanced by the up thrust from air and
viscous force from air. (ii) When an aeroplane flies at a constant height the weight of the plane is
balanced by the uplift force . (iii) Electron moves around the nucleus with uniform speed as the
centripetal force due to electrostatic force between the electron and nucleus is balanced by the
centrifugal force . (iv) A planet moves around the sun with uniform speed as the centripetal force
due to the gravitational force between the planet and the sun is balanced by the centrifugal force .

14. Principle of moments : At equilibrium the sum of anticlockwise moments of forces and clockwise
moments of forces is zero .

15. Centre of gravity is a point about which the sum of the moments of the weight of the particles
constituting the body is zero .

16.Centre of gravity of a body is placed closer to the wider part of the body .

17 . Position of centre of gravity of a body depends on shape of the body or distribution of mass .

18.Centre of gravity is always located below the point where the body is balanced.

19. Centripetal force is the centre seeking force which is responsible to make a body to revolve in a
circular path .It is a real force as it exists when the system is examined from both inertial frame and
non-inertial frame .

20. Centrifugal force acts away from the centre .It is a virtual force as it comes to exist when the
system is examined from non-inertial frame and vanishes when examined from inertial frame . It is
only considered during understanding a certain kind of motions .

21.Centrifugal force is not the reaction force of centripetal force.

22. Uniform circular motion is an accelerated motion as speed remains constant but velocity doesn’t
remain constant as direction doesn’t remain constant or direction of motion at each point on the
circular path continuously changes .

23. Centrifugal force is a virtual force as it doesn’t really exist , it is only considered to describe
some motions like uniform circular motion .

24. Centripetal force is a real force while centrifugal force is a virtual force . Centripetal force is a
centre seeking force while centrifugal force acts away from the centre .

25. Virtual force is a force which comes to exist when the system is examined from a non inertial
frame but vanishes when examined from an inertial frame. A real force comes to exist when the
system is examined from both an inertial frame and as well as from a non- inertial frame.
 EXERCISE

1. If moment of force is a vector quantity then state its direction . Name the factors on which the
direction of moment of force depends .

2.A spanner is provided with a long handle , give reason .

3.Why can a couple not produce linear motion but can produce a rotational motion ?

4. What is an equilibrium ? State two conditions of equilibrium .

5. An electron revolves around the nucleus with uniform speed , what kind of equilibrium does it
represent ?

6.A balanced beam balance represents which equilibrium and also state why ?

7.A body executes uniform circular motion . Draw a diagram to show the action of centripetal force
as well as the direction of motion .

8.A metre scale of mass 200 g is balanced by suspending a load of 325 g at 20 cm mark and 500 g
at 90 cm mark . Find the position of the knife edge .

9.A stone is tied to a string and whirled in a horizontal circle . If the string is broken then state your
observation .

10.When is the moment of force 0 even if the applied force is not 0 ?

11. An aeroplane flying at a particular height constantly represents which equilibrium and why ?

12. Why can a body be balanced at its centre of gravity ?

13.Differentiate between centripetal force and centrifugal force .

14.Why is it easy to open a door by applying a force at point away from its hinge ?

15. Two small kids weighing 10 kg and 15 kg are trying to balance a seesaw of total length 5 m ,
with the fulcrum at the centre . If one kid weighing 10 kg sits at one end find the position of the
other kid .

16. A sphere is to be rotated by applying the minimum possible force .Find the moment of force if
10 N force applied if it is needed to turn about its centre if its radius 0.5 m .Also find the moment of
force when the same force is applied on the same sphere at a point just opposite to the point of
application of force diametrically.

17. Differentiate between uniform linear motion and uniform circular motion.
18. Draw a diagram to show the position of the centre of gravity for a kite .

19.What equilibrium does a falling raindrop represent and why ?

20.Radii of two wheels are in the ratio 2:5. If the same torque is required to rotate them find the
ratio of forces needed .

21.A composite rod of length 2 m is composed of two uniform rods of equal lengths but made of
iron and aluminium of masses 20 kg and 15 kg .Find the centre of gravity.

22. Mention the differences between (i) centripetal force and centrifugal force (ii) uniform linear
motion and uniform circular motion .

23.Name the sources which provides centripetal forces . (i) During the revolution of the earth around
the sun (ii) During the turning of a vehicle on a plane road , (iii) During the turning of a vehicle on a
banked road (iv) During the revolution of a stone tied at one end of a string .

24.A person A holding a string with a stone tied to its one end and stands on a rotating platform
while another man B standing at a distance watch this .State the observations made by the
individuals and state the reason for the aforesaid observations .