Applied Mechanics

Chapter 3 : Moment
Tushar Kiran
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Government Polytechnic Lucknow
Detailed Contents
 Concept of moment
 Moment of a force and units of moment
 Varignon's theorem (definition only)
 Principle of moment and its applications (Levers – simple and compound,
steel yard, safety valve, reaction at support)
 Parallel forces (like and unlike parallel force), calculating their resultant
 Concept of couple, its properties and effects
 General conditions of equilibrium of bodies under coplanar forces
 Position of resultant force by moment
Concept of moment
  The tendency of a force to produce rotation of a body about some reference
axis or point is called the moment of a force. Example : Door Hinge
 It is given by the product of the force and perpendicular distance of the force
from the given axis or point.
Nm(Newton Meter)
 Moment is also referred to as torque.
Varignon’s Theorem
The
   algebraic sum of the moments of all the forces about a point is equal to the
moment of their resultant forces about the same point.
If force (F) is acting on rod of length (d) and rod is inclined at angle ()
Component of Forces are and .
Moment about A:
And also , Now putting the values of Fx and Fy in equation we get

Since both the equations are same Varignon’s Theorem is true.

Generalized Theorem of
Moment
 The algebraic sum of moment of
any number of coplanar forces
acting on a rigid body about a
point on the same plane is equal to
moment of their resultant about
same point.
 If F1, F2, F3, F4 _______ Fn be any
no. of forces. And their resultant is
R.
 Then the moment of F1, F2, F3, F4
_______ Fn forces will be equal to
the moment of R.
Principle of Moment
  If the algebraic sum of moment of
any number of coplanar forces
(Concurrent and non – concurrent)
acting on a rigid body about a
point in their plane is zero, then
the body will be in equilibrium i.e.
 In equilibrium the sum of
clockwise moment of forces is
equal to the sum of anti clockwise
moment of forces about the same
point.
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Application of
Moment
Levers (Simple and
Compound)
Steel Yard
Lever Safety Valve
Levers
 It is a mechanism (a rigid bar, may be straight, curved or bent which can
turn about a fixed point), used to magnify the effort of a force. Example : See
Saw, Pliers, nut crackers. Etc.

 If turning moment of load is equal to the turning moment of effort the lever is
said to be in equilibrium.
Mechanical Advantage
  we take moment about the fulcrum B and the lever is in equilibrium, we have
 If

- P * AB + W * BC = 0
P * AB = W * BC
P*a=W*b
W/P = a/b
 This (W/P) is termed as mechanical advantage or Leverage (a/b) of the lever.

 In order to increase the M.A. we need to increase the length of effort arm (a) OR
decrease the length of load arm (b)
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Types of Levers
Simple Lever
Bell Crank Lever
Compound Lever
Simple Lever
 The lever has one fulcrum, one
weight arm and one load arm.
These are used to lift weight by
small force. These are classified as:
1. Class – I : Fulcrum is in between
the Load and Effort. Example :
Simple Balance, See- saw
2. Class – II : Load is in between the
Fulcrum and Effort. Example :
Nut Cracker
3. Class – III : Effort is in between
the Fulcrum and Load. Example :
Fork, Tongs
Bell Crank Lever
 The lever in which two arms of the lever are inclined to each other at right
angle are called Bell Crank Lever. The arm of bell crank lever are unequal.

 AB is Effort Arm
 BC is Load Arm
Compound Lever
 It is the combination of more than one simple lever.

 It is used to increase the mechanical advantage in complicated mechanism, so that

minimum effort is required to raise the given load.
Taking Moment about E:
R * BE = P * AE
R = P * (AE/BE) ----------- [1]
Taking moment about D: A
R * CD = W * FD
R = W * (FD/CD) ---------- [2]

From Equation [1] and [2]

P * (AE/BE) = W * (FD/CD)
W/P = (AE/BE) * (CD/FD), Hence
M.A. of compound lever = M.A. of lever AB * M.A. of lever CD

The M.A. of a compound lever is the product of M.A. of simple lever which constitute the
compound lever.
Steel Yard
 It is same as Class – I lever.
 It works by employing a counterweight and lever
to weigh objects. Leverage is adjusted by sliding
the counterweight on a metal arm.
 The balance has scale, that allow the
determination of an object’s weight by attaching
the object to the hook on the shorter arm, sliding
the counterweight until balance is achieved, and
noting the position of the counterweight.
W1 * FD = W2 * GF + W * AF
 Here G is the center of gravity of Steel yard and
W2 is its weight. W is the unknown weight. W1
is adjustable weight.
Lever Safety Valve
  It is used in steam boiler and is used to maintain Constant Safe Pressure
inside the boiler.
 Taking moment about E (Fulcrum). When the lever is in equilibrium.

) * BE = 0
Resultant of Parallel forces by
Moment Method
Like
  and unequal Parallel  Unlike and unequal Parallel Forces
Forces If F2 > F1, then Resultant
Resultant is calculates as
And will act in direction of larger force.
Position is calculated by taking Let Resultant R act on point C which is
Moment at C situated outside AB. Taking Moment about
AB
Couple
  Couple is formed by two coplanar forces having the same magnitude,
parallel line of action but opposite direction separated by a certain
distance.
 The algebraic sum of all the forces forming a couple is zero i.e .
 Arm of Couple is the perpendicular distance (d) between the line of action
of forces.
 Moment of Couple is equal to the product of one of the force of the couple
and the arm of the couple.
 There are two types of couple one is Clockwise and other is Anti clockwise.
 It is a vector quantity.
Properties of Couple
 Algebraic sum of the forces constituting the couple in any direction is zero.
 Algebraic sum of the moment of the forces, forming a couple, about a point in
their plane is constant.

 Any two couple of equal magnitude and sense/direction, in same plane are
equivalent in their effect.
Properties of Couple
 Two couple acting in one plane upon a rigid body; whose moment are equal
but opposite in direction, balance each other.
 Any number of coplanar couples can be represented by a single couple whose
moment is equal to algebraic sum of the moment of individual couples.
 A Couple cannot be replaced by a single force. However a single force can be
replaced by an equal and like (same in direction) force through any point and
a couple.
General Conditions of Equilibrium
 A body is said to be in state of equilibrium if the body is either at
rest or is moving with uniform velocity. When a body is in
equilibrium the resultant of all the forces (coplanar forces) acting
on it is zero and also the resultant moment or couple is zero.
 The states of equilibrium are:
 The rigid body remains at rest.
 The rigid body move in one direction.
 The rigid body rotates about itself without moving.
 The rigid body moves in one direction as well as rotate about itself.
General Conditions of Equilibrium
Force Law of Equilibrium Moment Law of Equilibrium

  The
resultant of a system of   If the rigid body is in
coplanar forces acting on a equilibrium then the
rigid body is zero if the rigid algebraic sum of moment of
body is in equilibrium. i.e. R all the forces about a point is
= 0. zero or the sum of Clock wise
 If Moment is equal sum of
R=0
Anticlockwise Moment.
General Conditions of Equilibrium
Coplanar Concurrent Coplanar and Non
Force System Concurrent Force System Parallel Force System
  The following equation  The
  following equation are

are used to check used to check equilibrium   The following equation are
equilibrium state: state: used to check equilibrium
state:
 (along the parallel axis)
Position of resultant force by moment
  Magnitude, direction and position of the resultant of a given non –
concurrent, non – parallel, coplanar force system are calculate as:
 Reduce all the forces into two mutual perpendicular forces by resolving the
forces in x and y direction. The magnitude of Resultant the two mutually
perpendicular forces is obtained by

 The direction of the resultant is obtained by using the relation.

 The position of the resultant force is obtained by taking moment of all the
forces about a point in their plane and equating the algebraic sum of
moments of all forces to that resultant force about the same point.
Moment of the resultant force about a point = Algebraic sum of moments of all the
forces about the same point.
Reaction at Supports
Thankyou…