7.

MOMENT OF A FORCE [2]

The moment of a force (or more generally, of any vector)

about a point is defined as the product of the magnitude of
the force by the perpendicular distance of the point to the
action line of the force. As shown, this perpendicular
distance 𝑑 is called the moment arm whence the
magnitude of the moment of a force 𝐹 about a center 𝑂 is
expressed by

𝑀𝑂𝐹 = 𝐹𝑑

The moment of a force about a point represents the

tendency to rotate the moment arm (or the body on which the force acts) about an axis
which is perpendicular to the plane defined by the force and its moment arm. The
moment axis passes through the moment center. By curling the fingers of the right hand
about the moment axis in the sense of this rotation, the extended thumb represents the
direction of the moment vector.

The vector nature of moment can be deduced form the figure below where the position
vectors 𝐫 and 𝐩 were drawn from the moment center 𝑂 to any two points on the action
line of 𝐅. Since 𝐫 and 𝐩 lie in the same plane defined by 𝐅 and 𝑂, it is evident that the
moment arm 𝑑 is given by either 𝑑 = 𝑟 sin 𝜃 or 𝑑 = 𝑝 sin ∅.

Applying the definition of moment, we then have

𝑀𝑂𝐹 = 𝐹𝑑 = 𝐹𝑟 sin 𝜃 = 𝐹𝑝 sin ∅
where, from the definition of a cross product, the last two terms represent the magnitude
of 𝐫 × 𝐅 and 𝐩 × 𝐅 . We conclude that the moment of 𝐅 about 𝑂 is given by
𝐌𝑂𝐹 = 𝐫 × 𝐅
where 𝐫 is any position vector extending from the moment center to any point on the
action line of the force.
Note that the moment cross product must be written as 𝐫 × 𝐅 and not 𝐅 × 𝐫 so that
consistency with the right-hand rule for a moment vector can be maintained.

Restating explicitly, the moment of a force about a moment center is the product of the
position vector from the moment center to any point on the line of action of the force
crossed with the force vector.

The general definition of moment as a cross product can be used to demonstrate the
principle of transmissibility, which states that the external effect of a force on a rigid body
is independent of where it is applied along its line of action.

In the figure, the rotational effect of force 𝐅 upon a body free to rotate about an axle at
𝑂 is equivalent to that of a numerically equal force 𝐅1 applied along the action line of 𝐅
at the edge of the body or to that of 𝐅2 applied at the left edge inasmuch as

𝑀𝑂𝐹 = |𝐫 × 𝐅| = |𝐫 × 𝐅1 | = |𝐫 × 𝐅2 | = 𝐹𝑑

PRINCIPLE OF MOMENTS

The principle of moments states that the moment of a

force is equal to the moment sum of its components. This
statement is known as Varignon’s theorem and is
demonstrated as follows: In the figure, let 𝐑 be the
resultant of the concurrent forces 𝐏, 𝐅 and 𝐓. The force
system may be either coplanar of spatial, but it must be
concurrent.

We have seen that 𝐑 = 𝐏 + 𝐅 + 𝐓. About any point 𝑂 as a moment center, the moments
of these forces is

𝐫 × 𝐅 = 𝐫 × (𝐏 + 𝐅 + 𝐓) = 𝐫 × 𝐏 + 𝐫 × 𝐅 + 𝐫 × 𝐓

which proves the theorem. Note carefully that the resultant and the components must
be concurrent or it will be impossible to draw a common position vector to them from
the common moment center.
A more general symbolic statement of the theorem is

𝐌𝐎𝐑 = ∑ 𝐌𝐎 = ∑(𝐫 × 𝐅)

COPLANAR APPLICATIONS

Frequently, it is more convenient to determine the moment of a force from the moment
sum of its rectangular components rather than from the force itself.

Suppose a force F, making an angle 𝜃𝑥 with the x-axis, passes through the point 𝐴 having
the known coordinates(𝑥, 𝑦).

In this case it clumsy to determine the moment of 𝐅 about 𝑂 as the product 𝐹𝑑 since it is
too inconvenient to calculate the moment arm 𝑑. Instead we note that the position
vector to 𝐴 (from the moment center 𝑂, not shown) is 𝐫𝑂 = 𝑥𝐢 + 𝑦𝐣 and that 𝐅 = 𝐹𝑥 𝐢 + 𝐹𝑦 𝐣.
Applying moment as cross product, we obtain

𝐌𝑂𝐹 = 𝐫𝐴 × 𝐅 = (𝑥𝐢 + 𝑦𝐣) × (𝐹𝑥 𝐢 + 𝐹𝑦 𝐣)

Which after applying the algebra of unit vectors reduces to

𝑀𝑂𝐹 𝐤 = (𝑥𝐹𝑦 )𝐤 − (𝑦𝐹𝑥 )𝐤.

In coplanar applications, it is obvious that the moment vectors are perpendicular to the
𝑋𝑌 plane so that the unit vector 𝐤 really need not be written. Most engineers, therefore,
prefer a scalar method for computing moments in coplanar force systems. The positive
rotational effect is simply denoted by a curved arrow about a plus sign.
Example:

In the figure, a force 𝐹 passing through C causes a clockwise moment of 120 ft-lb about
A and a clockwise moment of 70 ft-lb about B. Determine the force and its 𝑥 intercept.

Solution:

This problem demonstrates how to interpret and apply the physical meaning of moment.
By resolving the force into its components at C, we observe that since 𝐹𝑦 passes through
A, the moment of 𝐅 about A is due only to 𝐹𝑥 which must act leftward as shown in order
to cause the specified clockwise moment about A. Next, in order to create the specified
clockwise moment about B, the action line of 𝐅 must intersect the 𝑋 axis to the left of B at
D with 𝐹𝑦 acting upward as shown.

We can now apply the principle of moments to obtain

[↷ +𝑀𝐴𝐹 = 𝑦𝐹𝑥 ] 120 = 2𝐹𝑥 𝐹𝑥 = 60 lb ←

[↷ +𝑀𝐵𝐹 = 𝑥𝐹𝑦 − 𝑦𝐹𝑥 ] 70 = 5𝐹𝑦 − 3(60) 𝐹𝑦 = 50 lb ↑

With 𝐹𝑦 now known, we use the components acting at D to get

[↷ +𝑀𝐵𝐹 = 𝑒𝐹𝑦 ] 70 = 𝑒(50) 𝑒 = 1.4 ft

Whence the 𝑥 intercept from O is

𝑖𝑥 = 5 − 𝑒 = 5 − 1.4 = 3.6 ft Ans.

This procedure illustrates the application of Varignon’s theorem, but it may be

simpler in this instance to determine 𝑖𝑥 directly, using the slope of the action line of 𝐅 as
specified by its components. Doing this yields
3 𝐹𝑦 3 50
[ = ] = 𝑖𝑥 = 3.6 ft Check
𝑖𝑥 𝐹𝑥 𝑖𝑥 60

The positive value of 𝐹𝑥 and 𝐹𝑦 obtained confirm our analysis. We combine these
components to obtain 𝐹 = 78.2 lb up to the left at 𝜃𝑥 = 39.8o with the 𝑋 axis. Ans.
SPATIAL APPLICATIONS

In general, the moment of a force about any axis is due to the components of the force
lying in the plane perpendicular to the axis of the moments.

The vector form of the moment of 𝐅 about 𝑂 is

𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
𝐌𝑂𝐹 𝐹
=𝐫×𝐅 =| 𝑥 𝐹𝑦 𝐹𝑧 |
𝐢 𝐣 𝐤

which on expanding the determinant becomes

𝐌𝑂𝐹 = (𝑦𝐹𝑧 − 𝑧𝐹𝑦 )𝐢 + (𝑧𝐹𝑥 − 𝑥𝐹𝑧 )𝐣 + (𝑥𝐹𝑦 − 𝑦𝐹𝑥 )𝐤

The coefficient of the unit vectors are respectively the moment of 𝐅 about the coordinate
axes, or

𝑀𝑥 = 𝑦𝐹𝑧 − 𝑧𝐹𝑦
𝑀𝑦 = 𝑧𝐹𝑥 − 𝑥𝐹𝑧
𝑀𝑧 = 𝑥𝐹𝑦 − 𝑦𝐹𝑥

Problem: A rectangular plate is supported by brackets at 𝐴 and 𝐵 and by a wire 𝐶𝐷.

Knowing that the tension in the wire is 200 N, determine the moment about 𝐴
of the force exerted by the wire on point 𝐶.
Solution:

The moment 𝐌𝐴 about 𝐴 of the force 𝐅 exerted by

the wire on point 𝐶 is obtained by forming the
vector product

𝐌𝐴 = 𝐫𝐶/𝐴 × 𝐅

where 𝐫𝐶/𝐴 is the vector drawn from 𝐴 to 𝐶,

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = (0.3 m)𝐢 + (0.08 m)𝐤

𝐫𝐶/𝐴 = 𝐴𝐶

and where 𝐅 is the 200-N force directed along 𝐶𝐷.

Introducing the unit vector 𝐧 = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐶𝐷 /𝐶𝐷, we write
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐶𝐷
𝐅 = 𝐹𝐧 = (200 N)
𝐶𝐷

Resolving the vector ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝐶𝐷 into rectangular components, we have

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = −(0.3 m)𝐢 + (0.24 m)𝐣 − (0.32 m)𝐤

𝐶𝐷 𝐶𝐷 = 0.50 m

Substituting into equation given above, we obtain

200
𝐅= [−(0.3)𝐢 + (0.24)𝐣 − (0.32)𝐤]
0.50
= −120𝐢 + 96𝐣 − 128𝐤 N

Substituting for 𝐫𝐶/𝐴 and 𝐅 and the equation of moment, we obtain

𝐌𝐴 = 𝐫𝐶/𝐴 × 𝐅 = (0.3𝐢 + 0.08𝐤) × (−120𝐢 + 96𝐣 − 128𝐤 )

0.3 0 0.08 0.3 0

𝐌𝐴 = 𝐫 × 𝐅 = |−120 96 −128| −120 96
𝐢 𝐣 𝐤 𝐢 𝐣

= (0)𝐢 + (0.08)(−120)𝐣 + (0.3)(96)𝐤 − (0.08)(96)𝐢

− (0.3)(−128)𝐣 − (0)𝐤

𝐌𝐴 = −7.68𝐢 + 28.8𝐣 + 28.8𝐤 N∙m

References:

[1] F.P. Beer, E. R. J. Johnston, D. F. Mazurek, P. J. Cornwell and B. P. Self, Vector

Mechanics for Engineers – Statics/Dynamics, 12th ed., New York: McGraw-Hill
Education, 2016.

[2] F.L. Singer, Engineering Mechanics – Statics and Dynamics, 3rd ed., New York,
Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc., 1980.

[3] R. Hibbler, Engineering Mechanics – Statics, 13th ed., New Jersey: Pearson Prentice
Hall. 2013.