Turning Effects of Forces

Turning Effects of Forces

❖ Significance: all around us

→ Makes it easier for us to do things, i.e., opening a door with less force if the
door handle is further away from the hinge
Turning Effects of Forces
Which spanner would you prefer to use to tighten the nut?

A B

❖ Spanner A: The force is exerted at a longer distance from the pivot so a larger
turning effect will be produced given the same force applied.

Would you use the coin or the fork to open the

tin can?
❖ Fork: The force is exerted at a longer distance
from the pivot so a larger turning effect will be
produced given the same force applied.
Turning Effects of Forces
Turning Effects of Forces
Let’s play arm wrestling! Partner up and let the match begin!

❖ Hook & Top-roll techniques

❖ Both techniques involve rotating your
opponent’s hand towards you, which
increases the distance from their hand and
their elbow. This way, the force you apply
is creating more torque. At the same time,
it’s causing your opponent to apply less
torque.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRNy5
3OLehQ
Physics of
Anatomy
Moment of a force (torque 𝜏)
Moment of a force is defined as the product of force applied and the
perpendicular distance from the pivot to the line of action of the force.

𝝉 = 𝑭×⊥ 𝒅 [SI unit: Nm]

❖ It is a vector with directions – anticlockwise or clockwise
❖
Moment of a force (torque 𝜏)
𝝉 = 𝑭×⊥ 𝒅

*line of action of force

What is the moment of a force

if the line of action of the force
passes through the pivot?

Ans: 0 Nm
Example 1(a)
Taking moments about the fulcrum,
moment of 60N force about fulcrum
= 60 N x (0.85-0.50) m
= 21 N m (Clockwise)
moment of 100 N force about fulcrum
0.30 m 0.35 m =100 N x (0.50-0.20) m
= 30 N m (Anti-clockwise)
Resultant moment about fulcrum
= 30 – 21
= 9 N m (Anti-clockwise)
Example 1(b)
Taking moments about the fulcrum,
moment of 2.0 N force about fulcrum
=

moment of 4.0 N force about fulcrum

=

moment of 3.0 N force about fulcrum

=

Resultant moment about fulcrum

=
 Example 2
F5
F3
d1
pivot
d2 d5pivot
d6

F1 F2 d3 d7

F7
F4 F6
pivot

Force .......... produces zero moment about pivot since the

......................................................... from ................................................................... of the
force equals to ........................
 Example 3
i h a) What is the moment due to force F
F Line of action of F about pivot P?
0.5 Fh
j

P
j
b) Explain why the force F is able to produce zero moment about pivot P (when shifted)
This is because the moment due to F is a product of force and perpendicular distance
from …………………………………………… of the force. When the line of action of force F
passes through P, there is zero …………………………. ……………………………… from pivot P to
the line of action of the force F.
Worked Example 4
The crank of a bicycle pedal is 16.0 cm long and the downward push of a leg on
the pedal is 400 N. Calculate the moment of the force when (a) the crank is
horizontal and (b) the crank has turned through an angle of 60°.

Taking moment about the axle,

Clockwise moment of force F
about the axle when the crank has
turned through an angle of 60
=Fxd
= F x l cos 
Taking moment about the axle, = 400 N x 0.160 m x cos 60
Clockwise moment of force F = 32.0 N m
about the axle when the crank is
horizontal
= F x l = 400 N x 0.160 m
= 64.0 N m
Example 5
Calculate the perpendicular distance from A to
the line of action of 900 N force. [Ans: 0.76 m]

Calculate the magnitude and direction of the

moment of the force about the centre of the
pipe fitting. [Ans: 680 Nm anticlockwise]
Principle of Moments
Sum of anticlockwise moments = Sum of clockwise moments
(system is balanced – in rotational equilibrium)
Moment of a force (torque 𝜏) 𝝉 = 𝑭×⊥ 𝒅
Rotational Equilibrium
❖ Vector sum of moments about any point = 0 object

Resultant torque 𝜏 acting on the rigid body = 0

→ the object is not rotating F F

Couple F
❖ Consists of a pair of forces which are
object
1. Equal in magnitude
2. Opposite in direction
3. Produce rotation F
(line of actions do not coincide)
Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies
❖ A rigid body is a body that does not deform under the action of forces

Rotational Equilibrium Translational Equilibrium

❖ Vector sum of moments about ❖ Vector sum of the forces = 0
any point = 0 Resultant force acting on the
Resultant torque 𝜏 acting on rigid body = 0
the rigid body = 0
❖

Static Equilibrium
 Example 7

Taking moments about the wheel, Force exerted by the wheel on

Clockwise moments of WP about the wheel + the plank = 80 N – 40 N = 40 N.
clockwise moment of NPA about the wheel =
Anticlockwise moment of FPF about the wheel
30 N x 0.5 m + 50 N x 0.5 m = FPF x 1.0 m
FPF = 40 N
Example 8
AB is a uniform plank of length 5.00 m and mass 80.0 kg. It is supported
horizontally on two trestles, C and D, placed 1.00 m from A and 2.00 m from B
respectively. Determine
a) the reactions from the trestles,
b) the magnitude and direction of the minimum force which must be applied at A
to lift the plank just clear of the trestle at C.
Example 8
AB is a uniform plank of length 5.00 m and mass 80.0 kg. It is supported
horizontally on two trestles, C and D, placed 1.00 m from A and 2.00 m from B
respectively. Determine
a) the reactions from the trestles, Take moments about trestle C,
Clockwise moment of WP about trestle C =
Anticlockwise moment of ND about trestle C
800 N x 1.50 m = ND x 2.00 m
ND = 600 N

The resultant force acting on the plank is zero.

NC + ND = 800 N
NC + 600 N = 800 N
NC = 200 N
Example 8
AB is a uniform plank of length 5.00 m and mass 80.0 kg. It is supported
horizontally on two trestles, C and D, placed 1.00 m from A and 2.00 m from B
respectively. Determine
b) the magnitude and direction of the minimum force which must be applied at A
to lift the plank just clear of the trestle at C.
Let the force applied at A be NA.
When the rod is lift clear of C, NC = 0.
Taking moments about trestle D,
3.00 m x NA = 800 N x 0.50 m
NA = 133 N
It is the upward force applied at A to
provide the clockwise moment to lift the
rod clear of trestle C.
Example 9

The rod just begins to rotate about pivot Q when the pivot P just loses contact
with the rod or when the normal contact force NP acting on the rod is 0 N.
Taking moments about pivot Q,
Cwm of FRM about the pivot Q = Acwm of WR about the pivot Q
FRM x distance x = WR x 1.2 m → 800 N x = 500 N x 1.2
x = 0.75 m
Maximum distance x from Q the man can walk as the rod just begins to rotate
about Q is 0.75 m.
Example 10
Example 12
Example 14
A non-uniform beam of 200 g balances horizontally about a pivot under the action
of the given forces and an unknown force F. The centre of mass of the beam is
directly above the pivot. R

a) Calculate F. b) Determine the force R

The beam is in static equilibrium. The resultant force acting on the
Take moments about pivot. beam is zero.
Sum of clockwise moments of forces about the pivot Vector sum of upward forces
= Anticlockwise moment of force about the pivot = Vector sum of downward forces
6.0 N x 0.60 m + 4.0 N x 1.00 m = F x 0.80 m R = F + 6.0 N + 4.0 N + 2.0 N
3.6 Nm + 16 Nm = F x 0.80 m R = 9.5 N + 6.0 N + 4.0 N + 2.0 N
F = 9.5 N = 21.5 N
Example 15 (solution in notes)
In order to handle a very hot object of mass 5.0 kg, a worker hooks it with a light
but stiff pole of length 3.0 m and carries it horizontally with two hands as shown
in the diagram below. His right hand is at end A of the pole and his left hand is at
point B, 0.75 m from end A of the pole. Determine the forces exerted by the right
hand and left hand of the worker on the pole.
Take moments about point A.
Anticlockwise moment about point A =
Clockwise moment about point A
FB x 0.75 m = (mg) x 3.0 m
FB x 0.75 m = (5.0 kg)(10 N kg-1) x 3.0 m
FB = 2.0 x 102 N

Resultant force on the pole = 0 N

The pole is in equilibrium. Hence, resultant
FA + mg = FB
torque = 0 Nm and resultant force = 0 N
FA = 2.0 x 102 N – 50 N
FA = 1.5 x 102 N
Turning Effect of Forces [Advanced]
𝝉 = 𝑭×⊥ 𝒅

What if the force applied is

not perpendicular to the
plane of the object?
i.e. F2 instead of F1?
Recall: Resolution of Vectors

opp adj opp

tan 𝜃 = cos 𝜃 = sin 𝜃 =
adj hyp hyp
Example 15
AB is a uniform beam of length 2.00 m and of weight 10.0 N, is hinged at A. A
string BC of length 1.50 m long attached to a hook at H holds it horizontally.
a) Draw all the forces acting on only the beam.
b) Determine the force exerted on the hook by the string.

H Taking moments about hinge A,

Clockwise moment of W about hinge A =
Anticlockwise moment of FBS about hinge A
1.50 m W x 1.00 m = FBS x d
10.0 N x 1.00 m = FBS x (2.00 m x sin 30)
FBS = 10.0 N
30 0 FBS = Tension in the stretched string
A B = Force exerted on hook by string
2.00 m = 10.0 N
Example 16
The diagram shows a uniform pole AB of length 2.0 m and mass 20 kg suspended
by a cable on a vertical wall and hinged to the wall at B.
a) Draw and label all the forces acting on the pole.
b) Calculate the tension T in the cable.

Let B be the pivot.

Take moments about B.
Clockwise moment of WP about B =
Anticlockwise moment of T about B
WP x (1.0 m) = T x (1.0 m)
(200 N) x (1.0 m) = T x (1.0 m)
T = 200 N (2 s.f.)
Centre of Gravity
Centre of Gravity
Stability
❖ Stability refers to the ability of an object to regain its original position after it has
been tilted slightly.
 Factors Affecting Stability
Base Area Height of C.G.