Moment of a Force

The moment of a force about an axis or line is the measure of its ability to produce turning or
twisting about an axis. The magnitude of the moment of a force about an axis which is perpendicular
to a plane containing the line of action of the force is defined as the product of the force and the
perpendicular distance from the axis to the line of action of the force.

F
MO = F d ; M = moment
d O F = force
d = moment arm
O = center of moment
Use: ( + ) for clockwise moment
( – ) for counterclockwise moment
Varignon’s Theorem:
Varignon’s theorem states that the moment of a force is equivalent to the sum of the moments
of the components.
y
F
Fx
x
d Fy
y
x
O

MO = F d
MO = Fx (x) + Fy (y) ; Fx = horizontal component of the force F
Fy = vertical component of the force F

Examples
1. Given the figure shown. Assuming clockwise moments are positive, compute the moment of force
F = 450 N and of force P = 360 N about points A, B, C and D.

Force F: A
4 3
MA = – 450 (3) – 450 (1)
5 5 F = 450N
MA = – 1350 N-m
C
4 3
MB = 450 (3) + 450 (4)
5 5 P = 360 N
MB = 2160 N-m 1m
D 1m
4 3 B
MC = 450 (0) + 450 (5)
5 5
MC = 1350 N-m
 4 3
MD = 450 (3) – 450 (1)
5 5
MD = 810 N-m
Force P:
2 3
MA = – 360 (3) + 360 (2)
13 13
MA = 0
2 3
MB = 360 (3) – 360 (3)
13 13
MB = – 299.54 N-m
2 3
MC = 360 (0) – 360 (4)
13 13
MC = – 1198.15 N-m
2 3
MD = 360 (3) + 360 (2)
13 13
MD = 1198.15 N-m
2. From the two sets of forces shown.
100 N

50º

200 N

1m 35º
1m A

a. Compute the horizontal component of the forces.

b. Compute the vertical component of the forces.
c. Compute the location of the resultant force from point A.
Horizontal component of the forces:
Rx = 200 cos 35º – 100 sin 50º
= 87.226 N R
178.994 N
Vertical component of the forces:
Ry = 200 sin 35º + 100 cos 50º
87.226 N
= 178.994 N
Location of the resultant force from point A:
 R = (87.226)2 + (178.994)2 = 199.116 N

100 sin 50º

200 sin 35º 199.116 N

d

199.116 (d) = 200 sin 35º (5) – 100 sin 50º (4)
d = 1.34 m

3. Two forces P and Q pass through a point A which is 4 m to the right of and 3 m above a moment
center O. Force P is 200 N directed up to the right at 30º with the horizontal and force Q is 100 N
directed up to the left at 60º with the horizontal. Determine the moment of the resultant of these
two forces with respect to O.
y Q = 100 N

P = 200 N
60º 30º
A
3m
x
O 4m

Σx = 200 cos 30º – 100 cos 60º

R
= 123.20 kN
Σy = 200 sin 30º + 100 sin 60º Σy
θ
= 186.60 kN
Σx
R = (123.20)2 + (186.60)2
R = 223.60N
Σy 186.60
tan θ = =
Σx 123.20
θ = 56.566º P = 223.60 N

4m 56.566º
A

3m
O x
d

2.02 x
 3
tan 56.566º =
x
x = 1.98 m
(4 – x) = 2.02 m
d
sin 56.566º =
2.02
d = 1.686 m
M = 223.60 N (1.686 m) = 376.99 N-m (counter-clockwise)
CE Board May 2006
Consider a coplanar force system shown.
y
10 N
6.7 N

(5, 3) 1
2
(8, 2)
30 N-m
x
O

a. Compute the resultant of the system

b. Compute the location of the resultant from the y-axis
c. Compute the location of the resultant from the x-axis
y
10 N
v
6.7 N
5
(5, 3) 1
2
(8, 2) h
30 N-m
x
O

Resultant
1 2
v = 6.7 = 3N ; h = 6.7 = 6
5 5
Ry = 3 + 10 = 13 N
Rx = 6 y 13 N
R = 14.32 N
R = 6 + 13
2 2
= 14.32 N
Location of resultant from the y-axis x 6N
13 x = 10 (5) + 3 (8) – 6 (2) – 30 y
x
x = 2.46 m O

Location of resultant from the x-axis

6 y = 10 (5) + 3 (8) – 6 (2) – 30
y = 5.33 m
Resultant of Parallel Forces
A parallel force system is one in which the action lines of all the forces are parallel. The
resultant of such a system is determined when it is known in magnitude, direction, and position.
Consider the systems of parallel forces P, Q, and S as shown. Select reference axes, with the
y-axis parallel to the forces so that none of the forces have an x component and the y component of
each force is its own magnitude. Consequently, Σx = 0 and Σy = ΣF where ΣF is the algebraic
summation of the forces.
R y
d

P
O
Q
x
S

R = (Σx)2 + (Σy)2 ; Σx = 0
= Σy
R = ΣF
To determine the position of R, select some convenient point O as a moment center and
employ the principle that the moment of a resultant equals the moment sum of its parts.
R (d) = ΣMO
Examples
1. Determine the resultant (magnitude and direction) of the parallel force system acting on the bar
AB shown.
200 N 100 N R 400 N

1m 1.5 m 1.5 m
A B

d
300 N
[R = ΣF]
R = 200 + 100 + 400 – 300
R = 400 N
[ΣMA = 0]
R (d) = ΣMA
400 (d) = 100 (1) + 400 (4) – 300 (2.5)
d = 2.375 m
2. A parallel force system acts on the lever shown. Determine the magnitude and location of the
resultant. R

30 lb 60 lb 20 lb 40 lb

2 ft 3 ft 2 ft 4 ft
A

d
 [R = ΣF]
R = 30 + 60 – 20 + 40 = 110 lb
[ΣMA = 0]
R (d) = ΣMA
110 (d) = 30 (2) + 60 (5) – 20 (7) + 40 (11)
d = 6 ft
3. Determine the amount and location of the resultant of the loads acting on the Fink truss shown in
the figure.
R
d 400 lb

300 lb 300 lb

200 lb 200 lb

30º 60º 60º 30º

A B
10 ft 10 ft 10 ft

x = 7.5 2000 lb
[R = ΣF]
R = 200 + 300 + 400 + 300 + 200 + 2000
R = 3400 lb
[ΣMA = 0]
R (d) = ΣMA
3400 (d) = 300 (7.5) + 400 (15) + 300 (22.5) + 200 (30) + 2000 (10)
d = 12.06 ft
4. Find the value of P and Q so that the four forces shown in the figure produce an upward resultant
of 300 lb acting at 4 ft from the left end of the bar.
100 lb P Q 200 lb

2 ft 3 ft 2 ft
A

4 ft
300 lb

[R = ΣF]
300 = 100 + Q – P – 200
Q = P + 400
[ΣMA = 0]
100 (0) + Q (5) = P (2) + 200 (7)
0 + (P + 400)(5) = P (2) + 200 (7)
5 P + 2000 = 2 P + 1400
P = – 200 lb = 200 lb (upward)
Q = 200 + 400 = 600 lb (downward)
CE Board May 2001
From the given sets of parallel forces shown, determine
a. The resultant force
b. Location of the resultant force from the left support
c. Reaction at the left support

40 60 100 kN 60 50

A B

1.5 2.5 2 4.5 m 1.5

[R = ΣF]
R = 40 + 100 + 60 – 60 – 50 = 90 kN (resultant force)
[ΣMA = 0]
90 x = 40 (1.5) +100 (6) + 60 (10.5) – 60 (4) – 50 (12)
x = 5 m (location of the resultant force from the left support)
90 kN

x=5m 7m

A B

RA RB

[ΣMB = 0]
RA (12) = 90 (7)
RA = 52.5 kN

REVIEW PROBLEMS

1. Compute the moment of force for the 150 N force and for the 300 N force about points A and B.

150 N

300 N

1m

1m A
2. In the figure shown find the y coordinate of point A so that the 361 kN force will have a clockwise
moment of 400 kN-m about O. Also determine the x and y intercepts of the action line of the force.
361 kN
y
2
x= 2 A 3

y
O x

3. Determine the resultant of the four parallel forces acting on the rocker arm shown in the figure.

40 lb 20 lb
50 lb 60 lb
4 ft 2 ft 3 ft 5 ft

4. The resultant of three parallel loads (one load is missing) is 30 lb acting up at 10 ft to the right of
A. Compute the magnitude and position of the missing load.
40 lb 60 lb

2 ft 11 ft
A

5. The cantilever beam is loaded as shown. Determine the magnitude of the resultant and the angle
it makes with the horizontal.
10 N 5N

2m 1m 1m
A
4
3 15 N

Solve the review problems and submit solutions on or before 8:00 PM of Sept 14 (Monday)
Use the Messenger to submit solutions.