Engineering Mechanics

Moment of a Force About An

axis, Free Body Diagram and
Couples
Module 3

BES 025 - STATICS OF RIGID BODIES BY ENGR. KENMARK JEWEL V. BIAG

Learning Objective
• Define moment of a force.

• Apply Varignon’s Theorem to simplify certain moment analyses.

• Draw an accurate free body diagram locating each of the forces

acting on an object or a system of objects.

• Define what is a couple.

Moment of a Force
What is the Moment of a Force?
The Moment of a force (Moment) is a measure of its tendency to cause a body to rotate about a specific
point or axis

M=Fxd (N-m)

The intersection of the x&y plane and the z-axis, point O, is known as the moment center , while the
perpendicular distance d is called as the moment arm ( line of action of F and the z-axis are both
perpendicular to d. In the SI, the unit of measurement of the moment M is in newton-meter (N-m).
Sign Convention
𝑀𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒 (+) 𝑀𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒 (−)
A PRINCIPLE OF MOMENT: VARIGNON THEOREM
Pierre Varignon (1654- 1722), a French mathematician, developed the theorem on the moment of a
force, thus, “ the moment of a force about a moment center is equal to the sum of moments of the
components of the force about the same moment center”.

Sample Problem
Sample Problem
Example Problems 2
2. In the figure shown, assume clockwise moments as positive, compute the moment of force F= 450KN
and of force P =361 KN about points A,B,C,and D
For F: For P:
450(4) 450(3) 361(3) 361(2)
𝑀𝐷 = (3) − (1) 𝑀𝐴 = (2) − (3)
5
3 5 5 3.6056 3.6056
4 𝑀𝐷 = 810 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚. 𝑀𝐴 = 0
3.6056
3 −450(3) −361(3)
2
𝑀𝐴 = (5) 𝑀𝐵 = (1)
5 3.6056
𝑀𝐴 = −1,350 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚. 𝑀𝐵 = −300.37 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚.

450(3) 450(4) −361(3) 361(3)

𝑀𝐶 = (5) 𝑀𝐵 = (6) 𝑀𝐶 = (4) 𝑀𝐷 = (4)
5 5 3.6056 3.6056
𝑀𝐶 = 1,350 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚. 𝑀𝐵 = 2,160 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚. 𝑀𝐶 = −1,201.46 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚. 𝑀𝐷 = 1,201.46 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚.
FREE BODY DIAGRAM (F. B.D.)
What is a Free Body Diagram?
Is the simplified representation of all the forces acting upon the body/object, showing the magnitude,
direction and point of application of the forces.

Why do we use FBD?

The construction of FBD is the key step that translate a physical problem into a simplified form that can be
analyzed mathematically.
FREE BODY DIAGRAM (F. B.D.)
How to draw the FBD?
1. Be neat, Because the equilibrium equations will be derived directly from the free-body diagram, it is essential that the
diagram be readable.
2. Clearly label all forces, angles,and distances with values (if known) or symbols( if the values are not known).
3. The support reaction must be consistent with the information presented in the table below.
4. Show only the forces that are external to the body (this includes support reactions and the weight).Internal forces occur
in equal and opposite pairs and thus will not appear on free body diagram.

COMMONLY USED FREE- BODY DIAGRAM

Practice Solving
Example Problems 1
1. The homogeneous 6m bar AB in the figure, (a) is supported in the vertical plane by rollers at A and
B and by a cable at C. The mass of the bar is 50 kg. Draw the FBD of the bar AB.
Determine the number of unknowns on the FBD.

𝑤 = 490.5 𝑁 𝐵 𝑁𝐵 Unknowns
Normal Reaction @ A
𝐺 𝑇
𝐶 20°
Normal Reaction @ B
Tension of the Rope
𝐴 40°

𝑁𝐴
𝑤 = 𝑚𝑔 = 50 9.81 = 490.5 𝑁
Couples And Force
(Couple Systems)
Module 3

BES 025 - STATICS OF RIGID BODIES BY ENGR. KENMARK JEWEL V. BIAG

COUPLES
A couple is a system of forces whose resultant has a zero magnitude, and yet has a momentum sum. A
couple is composed of two equal forces that are parallel to each other and acting in opposite direction.

𝐹1

𝐹2

The magnitude of a couple is:

C=Fxd
Where d is the perpendicular distance from one force to another.
In the SI, the unit of F is Newton (N) and of d, meter (m).
COUPLES
NOTE:
(1) A couple is independent of the moment center, thus the effect is unchanged in the following conditions:

a. the couple is rotated through any angle in its plane.

b. the couple is shifted to any other position in its plane.
c. the couple is shifted to a parallel plane.

(2) In cases where a system is composed entirely of couples in the same plane, or parallel planes, the
resultant is a couple whose magnitude is the algebraic sum of the original couples.
COUPLES
RESOLUTION; FORCE INTO A FORCE AND A COUPLE

The replacement of a force through a known point of application by a another force through a different
point is sometimes a necessary to simplify the given conditions in a particular problem. In the figure below,
F is a given force acting through point A. Force F remains unchanged through the addition of the two
equal forces F1 and F2 acting at point B and parallel to F.

Note that F1 and F2 and a couple, C=Fd or F2d. This is presented by the
clockwise couple shown, with F and F2 correspondingly taken out of
figure.
Practice Solving
Example Problems 2
2. A vertical shaft AB is 5m long and is bolted to the rigid support at its lower end A. At its
upper end B is attached a horizontal bar BC which is 2m long. At the end of C is applied a
force P= 180 N. Force P is perpendicular to the plane containing points A, B, C. Determine
the twisting effect of P on the shaft AB and the bending effect at point A.

𝑇𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 180 2 = 360 𝑁. 𝑚.

𝐵𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 180 5 = 900 𝑁. 𝑚.
Practice Solving

Example Problems 3
3. The three step pulley in the figure is subjected to the given couples. Compute the value of the resultant
couple. Also determine the forces acting at the rim of the middle pulley that are required to balanced the
given system.

𝐶= 𝐶𝑛 - +

𝐶 = −60(8) +30(12) −40 16

𝐹
𝐶 = −760 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚.
𝐶 = 760 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚.

𝐶 = 𝐶𝑏
𝐹
760 = 𝐹(12)

𝐹 = 63.33 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
RECAP
We learned:
What is a moment of a force?
• THE VARIGNON THEOREM

What is a Free Body Diagram?

• How to draw the FBD and Analyze a simplified Physical Problem.

What is a couple?
• Difference between a couple and moment.
• Moment
• No Pair
• With Moment Sum
• With Resultant Force
• Couple
• With Pair
• With Moment Sum
• Zero Resultant Force
BES 025 - STATICS OF RIGID BODIES BY ENGR. KENMARK JEWEL V. BIAG
END
BES 025 - STATICS OF RIGID BODIES BY ENGR. KENMARK JEWEL V. BIAG
ACTIVITY