Happy Grove, Titchfield, Seaforth, St.

Mary High & Annotto Bay High School, Wolmers

Physics Tutorial – Moment/Torque (Turning Forces)
June 2000, Paper III, Question #4

a) i. Define the term moment of a force and state the principle of moments.
[Ans. = See Moment of a Force or Torque, T]
ii. Describe how you would find the centre of gravity of a piece of cardboard of irregular shape.
[Ans. = See Centre of Gravity] (8 marks)
b) The figure below represents a tray held horizontally by a waiter. The tray has a weight of 6 N and
supports a drink of weight 3 N. The waiter provides a force at P. The tray is pivot about point T.

Figure 2
i. Use the information in the figure above to find the force provided by the waiter at P and the upward
force the hand exerts at T. [Ans. = P = 54 N; T = 63 N]
ii. The drink is moved along the tray closer to the hand. Is the force needed at P to keep the tray
horizontal now less, greater or the same? Explain your answer.
[Ans. = See Moment or Torque, T]
iii. How much work is done by the waiter in lifting the tray and drink through a height of 0.60 m?
[Ans. = 5.4 N m or J] (12 marks)
TOTAL = 20 marks
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June 2005, Paper III, Question #4

a) With the aid of a labelled diagram describe an experiment to determine the centre of gravity of
an irregular shaped piece of cardboard. (8 marks)
b) Figure 3 shows a bicycle of mass 15 kg resting in a vertical position, with the front and back
wheels touching the horizontal ground at P and Q respectively, where PQ =
1 m.
The centre of gravity of the bicycle is vertically above O, a point on PQ where PO = 30 m.

Mikhael V. Davis JP Revised: 5/28/2021

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Happy Grove, Titchfield, Seaforth, St. Mary High & Annotto Bay High School, Wolmers
Physics Tutorial – Moment/Torque (Turning Forces)

Given that the normal reactions of the ground on the front and rear wheels are R 1 and R2,
respectively, write TWO equations, in R1 and R2, which satisfy the conditions of equilibrium.
(4 marks)
c) Kenny and Candy decided to sit on a see-saw while visiting a local play park. Candy, of mass
50 kg, sat 250 cm from the pivot of the see-saw.
i) Where should Kenny, of 60 kg mass, sit so that a state of stable equilibrium exists?
(5 marks)
ii) What should Kenny do if he wanted to elevate Candy? (3 marks)
(Acceleration due to gravity = 10 N kg-1) Total = 20 marks
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June 2006, Paper II, Question #4

a) Define “the moment of a force”. [Ans. = See Moment of a Force or Torque, T]

(3 marks)
b) State the principle of moments. [Ans. = See Moment of a Force or Torque, T]
(3 marks)
c) A cyclist hangs his bicycle with the rear wheel in contact with the ground and the handle
attached to a light string as shown in Figure 4. The entire assembly is in equilibrium.

Mikhael V. Davis JP Revised: 5/28/2021

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Happy Grove, Titchfield, Seaforth, St. Mary High & Annotto Bay High School, Wolmers
Physics Tutorial – Moment/Torque (Turning Forces)

i) Indicate by drawing arrows on Figure 4 the forces acting on the bicycle.

[Ans. = See Moment of a Force or Torque, T] (3 marks)
ii) Write two equations relating these forces. (3 marks)
[Ans. = See Moment of a Force or Torque, T]
iii) The bicycle has a mass of 20 kg. Use the results you obtained in part c) ii) to determine the
tension of the string. [Ans. = 91.4 N] (3 marks)
[acceleration due to gravity = 10 m s -2] Total = 15 marks
………………………………………………………………………………………................….
June 2008, Paper II, Question #4 – Section B

a) i. Define the “moment of a force”.

ii. Draw a diagram to illustrate the action of a force multiplier lever
iii. Explain the operation of a force multiplier lever (6 marks)

b) Figure 3 shows a wheelbarrow and stones wit a total mass of 43 kg. The wheelbarrow is in
equilibrium with two of the three forces acting on it as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3
Mikhael V. Davis JP Revised: 5/28/2021
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Happy Grove, Titchfield, Seaforth, St. Mary High & Annotto Bay High School, Wolmers
Physics Tutorial – Moment/Torque (Turning Forces)

i. Identify the nature and point of action of the third force acting on the wheelbarrow. Write
down an equation showing the relationship between the THREE forces.
ii. Calculate:
a) the weight, W (see Figure 3)
b) the value of the applied force, F (see Figure 3)
[acceleration due to gravity = 10 m s -2 (N kg-1)] (9 marks)
Total = 15 marks
………………………………………………………………………………………….

June 1995, Paper III, Question #1

Two mechanics use ropes to lift an engine out of a car. The ropes are at an angle of 45 o to the
horizontal. See diagram below. Both men pull with the same force, i.e., 400 N.

Figure 1
a) Draw a vector diagram showing how the TWO forces can be added to give an upward force
to balance the weight of the engine, and find the weight of the engine.
[Ans. =580 N] (5 marks)
b) i) Explain why it is easier to use a pulley system than to use the ropes attached to the engine.
[Ans. =See Machines] (1 mark)
ii) Suggest TWO ways that energy would be wasted by the pulley system so that it would not be
100% efficient. [Ans. =See Efficiency of Machines] (2 mark)
iii) Describe fully how you would measure the efficiency of such a pulley system in the
laboratory. [Ans. =See Efficiency of Machines]
(5 marks)
Mikhael V. Davis JP Revised: 5/28/2021
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Happy Grove, Titchfield, Seaforth, St. Mary High & Annotto Bay High School, Wolmers
Physics Tutorial – Moment/Torque (Turning Forces)
c) The forearm is a lever in which the bicep muscles provide an upward force which can raise
the arm and carry a load. The diagram below represents the forearm as it holds a load of 60 N.
The forearm has a weight of 25 N and the centre of gravity, G of the forearm is marked along
with the point, P, at which it pivots on the adjoining bone.

Figure 2
i) Use the principle of moments to calculate the force, B, exerted by the biceps to hold the arm
and load stationary. [Ans. =520 N]
ii) The adjoining bone pushes down on the forearm at the point, P, with a force, R. By
considering the upward and downward forces, calculate the value of R.
[Ans. =435 N] (7 marks)
Total = 20 marks
……………………………………………………………………………............………………...

June 1997, Paper III, Question #3

a) i) Explain, with the aid of a diagram, what is meant by the moment of a force.
[Ans. = See Moment or Torque]
ii) What do you understand by the term "centre of gravity'?
[Ans. = See Centre of Gravity]
Explain why, in the absence of other forces, an object may be balanced at its centre of gravity.
[Ans. = See Centre of Gravity] (4 marks)
b) The diagram below represents a wheelbarrow containing a load of sand.

Mikhael V. Davis JP Revised: 5/28/2021

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Happy Grove, Titchfield, Seaforth, St. Mary High & Annotto Bay High School, Wolmers
Physics Tutorial – Moment/Torque (Turning Forces)

The container and load are pivoted at P and have a mass of 40.0 kg. Their centre of gravity, G, is
0.5 m from P and the handles of the wheelbarrow are 1.4 m from P. The handles are being held
so that the wheelbarrow is in equilibrium as shown in the diagram above.

i) Name the principle that must be satisfied for the wheelbarrow to be balanced. Explain how
this principle applies in this case. [Ans. = See Principle of Moment] (2 marks)
ii) Calculate the upward force which is being provided at the handles. (3 marks)
[Ans. = 142.9 N]
iii) Calculate the upward force at the axle, P, of the wheelbarrow. (3 marks)
[Ans. = 257.1 N]
iv) Explain the advantage of redesigning the wheelbarrow so that the centre of gravity is much
closer to the point, P. [Ans. = See Moment or Torque] (2 marks)
v) More sand is added to the wheelbarrow. Explain why this makes the wheelbarrow more
likely to tip over to one side. [Ans. = See Centre of Gravity] (2 marks)

c)

The wheelbarrow (mass 40 kg) is now wheeled up a ramp and gains 2 m in height, as shown in
the diagram above The work done is 1 400 J.

Calculate the change in the gravitational potential energy of the wheelbarrow. Treating the ramp
as a machine, calculate its efficiency. (g = 10 N kg-1) [Ans. = 57%] (4 marks)
Total = 20 marks
………………………………………………………………………................…………………..

Mikhael V. Davis JP Revised: 5/28/2021

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