Republic of the Philippines

DON HONORIO VENTURA STATE UNIVERSITY

Villa de Bacolor, Pampanga

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

A. Course Code / Title : Statics 213 / Statics of Rigid Bodies

B. Module Number : Module 8 - Principle of Moment

C. Time Frame : 5th week (3 hours)

D. Description:

This module looks into the definition and principle of moment.

E. Objectives:

At the end of this module, the learner should be able to :

1. Establish a better understanding on the definition and principle of moment.

2. Have knowledge on the effect of moment onto an object.

3. Solve problems on moment: by definition of moment and principle of moment.

F. Contents:

 Principle of Transmissibility

This states that the conditions of equilibrium or of motion of a rigid body will remain
unchanged if a force acting at a given point of the rigid body is replaced by a force of the
same magnitude and same direction, but acting at a different point, provided that the two
forces have the same line of action.

B B

P
A A

 Moment of a Force

When a force is applied to a body it will produce a tendency for the body to rotate about
a point that is not on the line of action of the force. This tendency to rotate is sometimes
called a torque, but most often it is called the moment of a force or simply moment.

F MA = F d

Where:
B
MA = moment of force F about A (N-m or ft-lb)
A
F = applied force (N or lb)
d = moment arm (m or ft)
Problem:

A 1000N vertical force is acting at the end of a lever which is attached to a shaft at O.
Determine:

a. The moment of this force about O

b. The magnitude of the horizontal force applied at A which will create the same moment
about O.

c. The smallest force applied to A which will create the same moment about O.

d. The position of a 2400N vertical force from the shaft which will create the same moment
about O.

1000N

60˚
O

Solution:

a. Moment of the given 1000N force about O.

 M O  1000N ( x)  eq.1 A

 Solve for moment arm, x:

1000N
x
cos 60  y
2.4
x  1.2m 60˚
O
 Substitute x = 1.2m in eq.1 x

M O  1000N (1.2m)
M O  1200N  m

b. The magnitude of the horizontal force applied at A which will create the same moment at O.

M O  Fy

1200  Fy  eq.2 A

 F
Solving for the moment arm, y:

y y
sin 60 
2.4
y  2.078m 60˚
O
 Substitute y = 2.078m in eq. 2 x

1200N  m  F (2.078m)
F  577.35N
c. The smallest force applied to A which will create the same moment at O.

Note:

 Force applied at A is smallest if the distance is biggest, which is equal to the hypotenuse
of the triangle, 2.4m.
A

M O  F (2.4m) F

1200N  m  F (2.4m)
F  500N y

60˚
O
x

d. The position of a 2400N vertical force from the shaft which will create the same moment
about O.
A
Let:

z = distance of 2400N from O.

M O  2400(a) 2400N
1200N  m  2400(a)
a  0.50m 60˚
O
a

Solve for distance along the lever, z, to indicate the position of the 2400N force from
the shaft:

0.5
cos 60 
z
z  1m

 Principle of Moment / Varignon’s Theorem

 The principle of moment which also referred to as Varignon’s theorem was originally
developed by the French Mathematician Varignon (1654 - 1722).

 It states that the moment of a force about a point is equal to the sum of the moments of
the components of the force about the point.

 The moment of the applied force F about point A can be determine using the principle
of moment.
 F Fy

Fx

y
A A

Sample Problem:

1. Determine the moment of the 100-lb force about A using the definition of moment and using
Varignon’s theorem.

5’
A

5’

12 ft

60˚ F = 100 lb

Solution:

a. Using the definition of moment, M = Fd

Line of action of F

5’
A

5’

12 ft
F = 100 lb
60˚
 Applying “principle of Transmissibility:

Line of action of F

F = 100 lb
E
d 5’
x
30˚ D
A B 30˚
12 - x 60˚
5’

C
12 ft

60˚

M  Fd
M  100(d )  eq.1

 To solve for d, consider triangles BCD and ABE:

Consider ΔBCD and solve for x

B x D
5 30°
tan 30  5’
x 60°

x  8.66 ft C
Consider ΔABE, solve for d:

d E
sin 30 
3.34 d
d  1.67 ft A 30°
B
(12 - x) = 3.34’

 Substitute d = 1.67 ft in eq. 1

M A  100lb(1.67 ft )
M A  167lb  ft (counterclockwise)

b. Using Varignon’s theorem:

 Resolve the force F = 100 lbs into its horizontal and vertical components

5’
A

5’
Fx = 100 sin60
12 ft

60˚ F = 100 lb

Fy = 100 cos60
 Taking moment about point A, using the components of the force. Assume clockwise
moment to be positive (+).

M A  100cos 60(12)  100sin 60(5)

M A  167lb  ft (counterclockwise)

G. References:

1. Vector Mechanics for Engineers 10th Edition, Beer, F.P., Johnston, E.R.Jr,
Mazurek, D.F., Cornwell, P.J.2013

2. Engineering Mechanics Statics 13th Edition, Hibbeler, R.C.,2013

3. Engineering Mechanics Statics 14th Edition, Hibbeler, R.C.,2016

4. Engineering Mechanics Statics 3rd Edition, Pytel, A., Kiusalaas, J., 2010