1.

To identify the factors affecting moments

2. To explore the principle of moments
Success criteria
• I can identify the factors affecting moment

• I can explain the principle of moment by comparing the

calculated clock-wise and anti-clockwise moments.

• I can use the principle of moment to find the unknown

values.
The turning effect of a
force is called the moment
of the force
 5N
3. Which direction
1. .What does 2.AWhat
pivotis will the
Anti-clockwise
Force
this number this? see-saw turn?
Mean?
 How can we increase the size
of the moment (the turning effect)?

Pivot
Pivot

Distance
Distancefrom
from
force
forceto
topivot
pivot

Force
Force
(effort)
(effort)
 moment

F x d
 10cm

5N
50Ncm
pivot

Calculate the moment (turning effect) of the force

applied to the see-saw. Give the units.
 LEVEL 1
Moments and Levers
Answer
these :-
2 metres
1. What is the moment of
this force ?
pivot 6 Newtons

1.5 metres
2. What is the moment of
this force? 3 Newtons
pivot

?? metres
3. What is the length of this
lever if the moment is
8 Nm ? pivot 2 Newtons
 For each of these, write “balanced” or “unbalanced”.
Balanced both 100Nm
10kg 5kg
4.
1m 2m Balanced both 1200Nm
10kg 15kg
5.
12m 8m

Unbalanced: Left is 1600Nm, right is 1650Nm

20kg 15kg
6.
8m 11m

Unbalanced: left is 160Nm, right is 150Nm

2kg 3kg
7.
8m 5m
 All of these see-saws are balanced.
Work out the missing number for each one.

40kg 50kg
8.
10m ?? 8m
m 14Kg
7kg ??kg
9.
3Kg 10m 5m

??kg 15kg
10.
15m 3m
12kg 28kg
11.
140m ??m

60m
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 = 20Nm = 10 x 2 = 20Nm
The Principle of Moments

D1
D2
D3

m1 m2 m3

Anticlockwise moment Clockwise moment

The Principle of Moments Let’s look
at some
worked
examples
1m
2m
0.5m

20N 20N 5N
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 = 20Nm = (5 x 2) + (20 x 0.5) = 20Nm
What are the conditions
for a body to be in
equilibrium?
EXTENSION

• You are provided with a scale, pivot and

weights. Apply the concepts learnt and
balance the scale using the weights
Challenge

• Can you balance the scale using one slotted

weight?