Turning Effect of Force

TURNING EFFECT
OF FORCE
Learning Outcomes
• Describe the moment of a force as a measure of its turning effect and give everyday examples
• Understand that increasing force or distance from the pivot increases the moment of a force
• Calculate moment using the product force x perpendicular distance from the pivot
• Apply the principle of moments to the balancing of a beam about a pivot
• Apply the principle of moments to different situations
• Recognise that, when there is no resultant force and no resultant turning effect, a system is in equilibrium
• Perform and describe an experiment (involving vertical forces) to show that there is no net moment on a
body in equilibrium
Explore
• Use the torque instrument and try different set of mass to
balance the beam.
• Use the link below and explore how to balance the set of mass
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Balance-
and-Rotation/Balance-Beam/Balance-Beam-Interactive
Moments
Why does the boy require more effort to pull the doorknob
when the doorknob is near the hinge than when it is near
the edge of the door?
Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International
30 October 2023
(Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
Moments
Definition:
The moment of a force (or torque) is the product of the force and the
perpendicular distance from the pivot to the line of action of the
force.
A simple diagram that show the effect of pulling a door open.

30 October 2023
Moments
Moment of a force = F x d
where F = force (in N)

d = perpendicular distance from pivot (in m)
üThe SI unit of the moment is the newton metre (N m)

üIt is a vector and thus has both magnitude and direction.
üIts direction is either clockwise or anti-clockwise.

30 October 2023
Moments
The moment of a force can be clockwise or anticlockwise.

30 October 2023
Moments

30 October 2023
Test Yourself
1. State two common real-life examples of the turning

effect of a force.
2. Why is it easier to open the lid of a container with a

spoon than a coin?

30 October 2023
Unit 5.1: Test Yourself
1. State two common real-life examples of the turning effect of a force.

Answer:
• Using a spanner to turn a bolt or nut.
• Using a can opener.
• Carrying a weight in the hand and turning the elbow.
• Stepping on the pedal of the bicycle to turn the wheel.
2. Why is it easier to open the lid of a container with a spoon than a coin?
Answer:
The spoon has a longer length than a coin. By applying the force at the
end of the spoon, the turning moment is greater.
30 October 2023
Principle of Moments
Learning Outcome
In this section, you’ll be able to:
•state and apply the principle of moments for a body in equilibrium

30 October 2023
Unit 5.2: Principle of Moments
Why does a beam balance measure mass?
Fig 5.6 A simple diagram showing the forces

acting on an equal-arm beam balance.

30 October 2023
A simple diagram showing the forces acting on

an equal-arm beam balance.
Anticlockwise moment = mg x d
Clockwise moment = Sg x d
For the beam to balance, the turning effects of these two
forces must be equal. Hence,
mg x d = Sg x d
Therefore m = S
Thus, the mass of apple m can be measured by the
standard masses S.
30 October 2023
What is the Principle of Moments?
https://simpop.org/balance/balance.htm
The Principle of Moments states:

When a body is in equilibrium, the sum of clockwise moments
about a pivot is equal to the sum of anticlockwise moments about
the same pivot.

30 October 2023
Principle of Moment
What is the conditions for equilibrium?
For an object to be in equilibrium:

• All forces acting on it are balanced. i.e. the resultant force is zero.
• The resultant moment about the pivot is zero. i.e. The Principle of
Moment must apply.

30 October 2023
Calculation with moments
Anticlockwise Clockwise
moment moment
B
A
0.60 m 0.20 m
4N 12 N
Moments about the fulcrum F:

Moments of A’s weight = 4 N ´ 0.60 m = 2.4 Nm
Moments of B’s weight = 12 N ´ 0.20 m = 2.4 Nm
Anticlockwise Clockwise
moment moment
B
A
0.60 m 0.20 m
4N 12 N
• B’s moments is called a clockwise moment because it turns the beam in the
direction that a clock’s hands would move.
• The moment due to A is an anti-clockwise moment.
• When two moments balance, the anti-clockwise moment about any point is
equal to the clockwise moment about the same point.
Example 7
Find the weight of the person A sitting on the balanced see-saw in the
B
diagram shown. A
1.5 m 1.0 m
W 600 N
Solution
Let the weight of A be W.
Anti-clockwise moment = Clockwise moment
W ´ 1.5 m = 600 N ´ 1.0 m
W ´ 1.5 m = 600 Nm
W = 600 Nm = 400 N
1.5 m
The weight of A is 400 N.
Example 8
A door is held in balance by two forces – one force of 20 N acting on the handle
60 cm from the fulcrum, O, and the other of 15 N acting on the edge of the door.
Find the width of the door.
N
20
60
c m
15 N
O
Top view of door

Solution
Let the width of door be D.
Taking moments about O,
15 N ´ D = 20 N ´ 60 cm
D = 1200 Ncm = 80 cm
15 N
The width of the door is 80 cm.
Levers are simple machines that make use of the principle of

moments. When apply a force at one end of the lever, a load may
be lifted at the other end.
Fig 5.14 Simple levers.

30 October 2023
Levers
• Some examples of machines that apply moments to help us
perform various tasks are pulleys, hydraulic presses and levers.
• You use a lever by applying a force (called the effort) to one
point of the lever.
• This effort is used to overcome a force (called the load) at some
other point.
• In levers, the effort produces a moment, which balances the
moment due to the load. The moments are taken about a point
called the fulcrum (or pivot).
Classes of levers
• There are 3 classes of levers – first, second and

third.
• The class of a lever depends on the position of
the fulcrum (F), load (L) and effort (E).
Classes of levers
• First class levers:

• F between L and E
E
• E.g. wire cutter
F L
E
Classes of levers
• First class levers:

• E.g. A see saw
• To have the greatest turning effect, both children sit as far away as
possible from F.
E
Classes of levers
• Second class levers: E

• L between F and E
• E.g. nutcracker L F
E
Classes of levers
• Second class levers: E

• E.g. wheelbarrow E
L
F
Classes of levers
• Third class levers:

• E between F and L
• E.g. Ice tongs E
F
L
L
E
Classes of levers
• Third class levers:

• A fishing rod
• E is greater than L, but a small L
movement of the hand can E
make the fish move from sea to
land quickly.
F
Calculations with first class levers
Example 9
A light fishing pole, 2 m long, is pivoted at 50 cm from one end. The other
end has a line with a 4 kg fish on it. What is the effort, E, required to land
the fish? [A gravitational force of 10 N acts on a mass of 1 kg.]
50 cm
4 kg
Calculations with first class levers
Solution
Taking moments about the fulcrum,
E ´ 50 cm = 40 N ´ 150 cm
E = 40 N ´ 150 cm
50 cm
= 40 N ´ 3
= 120 N
The effort required is 120 N.

Calculations with second class levers
Example 10
A crowbar, 60 cm long, is used to move a load weighing
96 kg. It is loaded at 5 cm from the end where the pivot is. What is the
effort, E, required to move this load?
E
5 cm
96 kg
Solution
Taking moments about the fulcrum,
Clockwise moment = Anti-clockwise moment
E ´ 60 cm = 960 N ´ 5 cm
E = 960 N ´ 5 cm
60 cm
= 80 N
The effort required is 80 N.
Calculations with third class levers
Example 11
A pair of forceps is 10 cm long. By gripping the forceps 6 cm from the
pointed ends with a force of 1.2 N, a tiny seed may be picked up easily.
What force does the seed exert on each arm of the forceps?
1.2 N
L
6 cm
L
1.2 N
Solution
Taking moments about the pivot for the upper arm,
L ´ 10 cm = 1.2 N ´ (10-6) cm
L = 1.2 N ´ 4 cm
10 cm
= 0.48 N
The effort required is 0.48 N.

PRACT ICE
1. The diagram below shows a see-saw type of lever that has a

length 8 L. On the left of the fulcrum is a body P with 6 units of
mass. Find the mass of the body M in terms of these units if
the see-saw is balanced. [You do not need to know what units
they are.]
2. A light metre rule is pivoted at the zero end. A
spring balance supports the other end. What is
the reading of the spring balance if a weight of 50
N is hung from the 80 cm mark?
2. A light metre rule is pivoted at the zero end. A spring balance
supports the other end. What is the reading of the spring balance
if a weight of 50 N is hung from the 80 cm mark?
3. AC is a plank of wood 3 metres long. It is supported at the
centre and bolted at a point B, one metre from A. The end C
overhangs a swimming pool. What force is acting at the bolt
when a diver weighing 50 kg stands at C?
3. AC is a plank of wood 3 metres long. It is supported at the centre
and bolted at a point B, one metre from A. The end C overhangs a
swimming pool. What force is acting at the bolt when a diver
weighing 50 kg stands at C?
E x 100 cm = 50 N x 80 cm
E = 50 N x 80 cm
100cm
E = 40 N
F × 0.5 m = 500 N × 1.5 m
F = 500 N × 1.5 m
0.5 m
F= 1 500 N
Learning Outcomes
• Perform and describe an experiment to determine the position of the centre of mass of a
plane lamina.
• Understand the centre of gravity of a body as the point through which its weight appears to act.
• Describe qualitatively the effect of the position of the centre of mass on the stability of simple
objects
Centre of Gravity
Try balancing a meter rule with your index finger. At which

mark did you observe the ruler does the ruler balance?

30 October 2023
Centre of Gravity
Why does a uniform metre rule balance only at the 50 cm mark?
W W
When the pivot is not at the 50 cm When the pivot is at the 50 cm

mark, the moment of the weight W mark, the ruler is balanced. The
is not zero. This causes the ruler to moment of the weight is zero.
turn clockwise about the pivot.

30 October 2023
Centre of Gravity
What is centre of gravity?
The centre of gravity is the point at which the

weight of an object appears to be concentrated.

30 October 2023
Centre of Gravity
Centre of Gravity of some regular shaped objects.
30 October 2023
Centre of Gravity
How to find the centre of gravity of an object?
A piece of thin lamina that is suspended at various positions will come to

rest with its weight acting directly downward as indicated by a plumb line.
Where do you think the centre of gravity is?
30 October 2023
Centre of Gravity
How to find the centre of gravity of an object?
Locating the centre of gravity of a lamina by the plumb line method. Note
that two lines are sufficient. The third line serves as a check.
30 October 2023
Centre of Gravity
Experiment 5.2
Fig 5.22
Fig 5.23
30 October 2023
Stability
Learning Outcome
In this section, you’ll be able to:

• Describe the stability of an object in terms of the position of
its centre of gravity

30 October 2023
WHY the Leaning
Tower of Pisa does
not Fall?
WHY the
Leaning
Tower of
Pisa does
not Fall?
WHY do racing
cars have a low
center of gravity?
Stability
Racing cars have really low centers of gravity so that they can
corner rapidly without turning over.
30 October 2023
Stability
Stability refers to the ability of an object to return to its original

position after it has been tilted slightly.
The lower the center of gravity (G) is, the more stable the
object. The higher it is the more likely the object is to topple
over if it is pushed.
30 October 2023
Stability
To increase stability of object,
• Centre of gravity is as low as possible.
• The area of its base is as wide as possible.
The more stable a car, the faster it can go round turns without overturning. Hence,
all racing cars have a very low wide base and a low centre of gravity.
30 October 2023
30 October 2023

Turning Effect of Force

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Turning Effect of Force

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TURNING EFFECT

A simple diagram that show the effect of pulling a door open.

where F = force (in N)

üThe SI unit of the moment is the newton metre (N m)

Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International

The moment of a force can be clockwise or anticlockwise.

Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International

Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International

1. State two common real-life examples of the turning

2. Why is it easier to open the lid of a container with a

Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International

1. State two common real-life examples of the turning effect of a force.

Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International

Fig 5.6 A simple diagram showing the forces

Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International

A simple diagram showing the forces acting on

The Principle of Moments states:

Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International

What is the conditions for equilibrium?

For an object to be in equilibrium:

Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International

Moments about the fulcrum F:

Top view of door

Levers are simple machines that make use of the principle of

Fig 5.14 Simple levers.

• There are 3 classes of levers – first, second and

• First class levers:

• First class levers:

• Second class levers: E

• Second class levers: E

• Third class levers:

• Third class levers:

The effort required is 120 N.

The effort required is 0.48 N.

1. The diagram below shows a see-saw type of lever that has a

Try balancing a meter rule with your index finger. At which

Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International

Why does a uniform metre rule balance only at the 50 cm mark?

When the pivot is not at the 50 cm When the pivot is at the 50 cm

Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International

What is centre of gravity?

The centre of gravity is the point at which the

Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International

A piece of thin lamina that is suspended at various positions will come to

In this section, you’ll be able to:

Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International

Stability refers to the ability of an object to return to its original

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