Turning effects of Forces

LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
1.5.2 Turning effect
Core
• Describe the moment of a force as a Supplement
measure of its turning effect and give everyday • Apply the principle of moments to
examples different situations
• Understand that increasing force or distance
from the pivot increases the moment of a
force
• Calculate moment using the product force ×
perpendicular distance from the pivot
• Apply the principle of moments to the
balancing of a beam about a pivot

1.5.3 Conditions for equilibrium • Perform and describe an experiment

Core (involving vertical forces) to show that
• Recognise that, when there is no resultant there is no net moment on a body in
force and no resultant turning effect, a system equilibrium
is in equilibrium
 LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
1.5.2 Turning effect
Core
• Describe the moment of a force as a Supplement
measure of its turning effect and give everyday • Apply the principle of moments to
examples different situations
• Understand that increasing force or distance
from the pivot increases the moment of a
force
• Calculate moment using the product force ×
perpendicular distance from the pivot
• Apply the principle of moments to the
balancing of a beam about a pivot

1.5.3 Conditions for equilibrium • Perform and describe an experiment

Core (involving vertical forces) to show that
• Recognise that, when there is no resultant there is no net moment on a body in
force and no resultant turning effect, a system equilibrium
is in equilibrium
Forces and moments
The longer
the spanner,
the greater
the turning
effect

Spanners are
used for
tightening and
loosening nuts.
They help to
produce a
larger turning
effect.
 Forces and moments

𝑴𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆
𝑭𝒙𝒅

𝑴𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆
=
Don’t 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒙 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒑𝒊𝒗𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆
forget
that the
unit of
Force is
the Moments may be described as
Newton
(N)
clockwise or anticlockwise
 Forces and moments

To increase the force

applied to undoing a
wheel nut, extend the
length of the spanner –
you can do this by
inserting a length of
pipe over the end.
 Forces and moments
𝑴𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 = 𝑭 𝒙 𝒅
𝑴𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 = 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒙 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒑𝒊𝒗𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆

How can we make the moment

bigger?
• More force applied (Bigger Force)

• Force applied further away from the pivot

• Force acting Perpendicularly (at 90º)

Perpendicular lines

Parallel lines
 3N

Let’s look at a
few examples X
of calculations
involving 5m
moments.
Moment about X = 3 x 5 = 15N m
(anticlockwise)

4m

Principle of moments
5N

Moment about X = 5 x 4 = 20N m

(clockwise)
 LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
1.5.2 Turning effect
Core
• Describe the moment of a force as a Supplement
measure of its turning effect and give everyday • Apply the principle of moments to
examples different situations
• Understand that increasing force or distance
from the pivot increases the moment of a
force
• Calculate moment using the product force ×
perpendicular distance from the pivot
• Apply the principle of moments to the
balancing of a beam about a pivot

1.5.3 Conditions for equilibrium • Perform and describe an experiment

Core (involving vertical forces) to show that
• Recognise that, when there is no resultant there is no net moment on a body in
force and no resultant turning effect, a system equilibrium
is in equilibrium
The Principle of Moments

This beam is in a state of balance.

In order to be balanced, the clockwise forces must
be equal to the anticlockwise forces.
We say that the beam is in a state of equilibrium.

The Principle of Moments states that:

“If an object is in equilibrium, the sum of the clockwise moments
about any point is equal to the sum of the anticlockwise moments
about that point.”
The Principle of Moments Let’s look
at some
worked
examples
1m
2m

20N 10N

Anticlockwise moment Clockwise moment

= 20 x 1 = 20N·m = 10 x 2 = 20N·m
The Principle of Moments Let’s look
at some
worked
examples
1m
2m
0.5m

20N 20N 5N

Anticlockwise moment Combined clockwise moment

= 20 x 1 = 20N·m = (5 x 2) + (20 x 0.5) = 20N·m
 0.5m 0.5m 1m

F=? 20N 10N

 What force does the
The Principle of Moments trailer exert on the
hitching point, and what
force do the rear tyres
exert on the road?

Hitching point Rear tyres

(consider as a
single force)
 What force does the
The Principle of Moments trailer exert on the
hitching point, and what
force do the rear tyres
exert on the road?

Centre of
mass of
trailer

3m 6m

400 kN
 What force does the
The Principle of Moments trailer exert on the
hitching point, and what
force do the rear tyres
exert on the road?

Centre of
mass of
X trailer

3m 6m

400 kN
A

At the hitching point,

the downward force of
the trailer on the hitch
is equal to the upward
force of the hitch on the
trailer (X).
 What force does the
The Principle of Moments trailer exert on the
hitching point, and what
force do the rear tyres
exert on the road?

Centre of
mass of
X trailer Y
3m 6m

400 kN
A B

At the hitching point, The downward force of

the downward force of the rear tyres on the
the trailer on the hitch road is equal to the
is equal to the upward upward force of the road
force of the hitch on the on the tyres (Y).
trailer (X).
 What force does the
The Principle of Moments trailer exert on the
hitching point, and what
force do the rear tyres
exert on the road?

Centre of
mass of
X trailer Y
3m 6m

400 kN
A B
To find X, look at the moments about point B

Clockwise moment = X x 9m
Anticlockwise moment = 400kN x 6m = 2400kN m

X x 9m = 2400 kN m
So: X = 266.7 kN
So: downward force on hitching point = 266.7kN
 What force does the
The Principle of Moments trailer exert on the
hitching point, and what
force do the rear tyres
exert on the road?

Centre of
mass of
X trailer Y
3m 6m

400 kN
A B
To find Y:

Total upward force = Total downward force

So: X + Y = 400kN
So: 266.7 + Y = 400kN
So: Y = 400kN - 266.7kN
Y = 133.3kN
So: the downward force from rear tyres = 133.3kN
 LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
1.5.2 Turning effect Supplement
Core • Apply the principle of moments to different
• Describe the moment of a force as a situations
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 ×
perpendicular distance from the pivot
• Apply the principle of moments to the
balancing of a beam about a pivot

1.5.3 Conditions for equilibrium

Core • Perform and describe an experiment
• Recognise that, when there is no resultant (involving vertical forces) to show that there is
force and no resultant turning effect, a system no net moment on a body in equilibrium
is in equilibrium
Centre of Mass and Stability
 So how do you find the
centre of mass (centre of
gravity) for an irregularly
shaped object?

Allow the card to

swing freely from
the pin. Repeat using a plumb
line, and wherever
the lines cross, this
The card turns is the centre of
until the centre mass.
of mass is
vertically under
the pin.
Centre
Centre ofof Mass
Mass and Stability

Upward
force on
ruler Suspension
point (G)

Lots of tiny particles exerting

gravitational forces on either
side of point G

When the gravitational forces The forces now act together at

on either side of G are equal, G (a resultant force) = the
the ruler is balanced. weight.
G is the centre of mass, or
centre of gravity.
 The weight of an object acts
through its centre of mass.
Symmetry can help judge where
the centre of mass is.

Centre of mass of table: Below

the tabletop. This shows that
the CG does not have to
physically be within the object
Centre of Mass and Stability

1 2 3 4 5

If a force is applied, which box

will be the most stable?
 Centre of Mass and Stability

Centre of mass

Weight acting downwards

Upward force from ground

1) No resultant force (Rf=0)

Conditions for equilibrium:
2) No moments acting

The box here is in equilibrium. Forces are

balanced, as are the turning effects.
Centre of Mass and Stability

If a small force is applied, the tilt is small and

the upward and downward forces will act to
return the box to its original position.
Centre of Mass and Stability

With a larger force applied there is more tilt,

the box goes beyond the centre of gravity, so
it will fall over.
Centre of Mass and Stability

If the box has a wider base and a lower

centre of gravity then it will be harder to tip
over.
Thank you. You rock!