3.

07 Moments and levers

Describe the moment of a force about a point and apply the
principle of moments to the balancing of a beam about a pivot
and explain the action of common tools as levers.
Recognise that when there is no resultant force and no resultant
turning effect, a system is in equilibrium
 Write an exit card that answers the following questions:

a. Describe the moment of a force and give everyday

examples
b. State the two conditions for an object to be in equilibrium
 You can draw diagrams for better understanding.

BYOD activity:
 The handle on a door is at the outside edge so that it
opens and closes easily
 A much larger force would be needed if the handle
was near the hinge
 Similarly, it is easier to loosen a nut with a long
spanner than with a short one or with your hand.

Moment of a force
 We observe that objects turn about a fixed location
called the pivot

 The turning effect of a force is called the moment of

the force or torque

 It is a vector quantity (magnitude + direction)

 Moment direction is either clockwise or anticlockwise

Moment of a force
 The moment of a force depends on:

1. The size of the force

2. How far it is applied from the pivot or fulcrum

 So that:
Moment = Force x Perpendicular distance of
the line of action of the force from pivot

 The derived SI unit for moment is N.m

Moment of a force
Reflection
Ex 1. The minimum moment to open a door is 20.5 N m.
The door must be opened with a force of 50 N at the
handle. Calculate the minimum distance of the handle
from the hinge.

 Moment = Fd
moment 20.5 N.m
 So d = = = 0.41m
F 50 N
 The handle should be at least 0.41 m away from the
hinge.

Example 1
 To balance a beam about a pivot, like the ruler shown,
weights must be moved so that the clockwise turning
effect equals the anticlockwise turning effect or the
net moment on the beam becomes zero

Balancing a beam
 This is called the principle of moments , where:
"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."

 If the beam tends to swing clockwise , m1 can be

moved further from the pivot to increase its turning
effect; alternatively, m2 can be moved nearer to the
pivot to reduce its turning effect.

Principle of
moments
 To achieve equilibrium in a beam:

1. The sum of forces in one direction must equal the

sum of forces in opposite direction

 +↑Σ F = zero or F ↑ = F ↓

2. The principle of moments must apply.

 +↶Σ M = zero or M ↶ = M ↷

Equilibrium
Ex 2. To balance the beam shown, 8 N weight is moved to
the left at distance x from the pivot. Find x and find the
support force (called reaction)?

Example 2
 For the beam to be in balance, the net resultant
force and net turning effect must equal zero. Thus,
 M ↶ = M ↷, so:
5 N x 4 m = 8 N x x m => x = 2.5 m
 F ↑ = F ↓ or Net force = 0 so:
8 N + 5 N = Reaction => Reaction = 13 N ↑
 Recall that you need to specify the positive
direction of moment and force like: (+↶,+↑)

Example 2
Ex 3. The see-saw shown, balances when Hani of weight
320 N is at A, Tom of weight 540 N is at B and Harry of
weight W is at C. Find W and the reaction force?

Example 3
 M ↶ = M ↷, so:
320 N x 3 m + 540 N x 1 m = W x 3 m
W = 500 N ↓

 F ↑ = F ↓, so:
320 N + 540 N + 500 N = R
R = 1360 N ↑

 Recall that you need to find W, before finding the

reaction force by summation of forces.

Example 3
Ex 4. Consider a heavy plank resting on two trestles, the
beam is in equilibrium, find the upward forces P and Q
exerted by the supports on the plank (called reactions)?

Example 4
 Because the plank is in equilibrium, we can use the two
equations, where the net force and net moment are both
zeros
 F ↑ = F ↓ = 500 N + 400 N + 700 N = P N + Q N
P + Q = 1600 N ..........(1)
 Now we can find either the moments at point O where
the two forces have moments and then solve P and Q as
a simultaneous equation or we can choose another point
where moment of one of these reactions is zero, in
order to find the forces faster and easier. Thus,
 M↶=M↷
500 N x 5m + 400 N x 2 m + 700 N x 1 m = P N x 4 m
P = 1000 N. Substitute P in eq. 1 => Q = 600 N
 Recall that you can check on your answers by solving for
moments at P (Which is easier?)

Example 4
 Levers : is any device which can turn about a pivot

 In a working lever a force called the effort is used to

overcome a resisting force called the load
 The pivotal point is called the fulcrum
"Give me a place to stand and a lever long
enough and I will move the world" Archimedes

 According to where the load and effort are located with

respect to the fulcrum, there are three classes of lever:
a) First-Class Lever
b) Second Class Lever
c) Third Class Lever

Levers
Types of levers*
 First Class Lever
 This is a type of lever which has the pivot in between
the load and the effort applied. This is the most basic
type of lever.
 Example:
A wheel and axle is also an example.
Our hand pushing an object or seesaws, crowbars.
Using scissors represents the use of two first-class levers.
Pulling a nail out of a wooden plank also represents a first-
class lever.

Lever classes*
 Second Class Lever
 The pivot is at one end and the effort applied is on the
other end. The load is situated in the middle of these
two.
 Example:
Wheelbarrow
Staplers
Doors or gates
Bottle openers
Nutcracker
Nail clippers

Lever classes*
 Third Class Lever
 The pivot is at one end and the effort applied is in the
middle, while the load is on the other end.
 In this order, we have to apply the most effort to
displace the load to a longer distance.
 Example:
A broom
Human jaw
Fishing rod
A baseball bat
A bow and arrow

Lever classes*
Ex 5. A boy used a crowbar to move a heavy boulder of
weight 1000 N, if distances from the fulcrum are OA = 10
cm and OB = 200 cm, what is the effort exerted by the
boy to just move the boulder?

Because the effort needed to be calculated is when the

boulder just begins to move, then,
M↶=M↷
Effort x 2 m = 1000 N x 0.1m
Effort = 50 N

Example 5
Ex 6. Figure (a) shows a man
holding a stiff fishing rod with
two hands. A 3 kg fish hangs at
one end.
Figure (b) shows a simplified
diagram of the positions of the
hands and fish. The lifting hand
is the pivot while the supporting
hand exerts a downward force F
The rod is horizontal, stationary
and very light, such that the
effect of its weight is negligible.
Calculate the force F.

Example 6
 Clockwise moment of the fish’s weight = 30 N × 0.9 m
Clockwise moment of the fish’s weight = 27 N m
 Anticlockwise moment of F = F × 0.3 m
Anticlockwise moment of F = 0.3 F N m
 Using the principle of moments,
 (0.3 m) F = 27 N m
27 N m
 F = = 90 N
0.3 m

Example 6
Ex 7. The figure below shows a hand winch. The hand
winch is used to move a load of 3000 N.
Calculate the minimum force required to turn the drum.

Clockwise Moment of load L = 3000 x 0.1

Clockwise Moment of load L = 300 N.m
Anticlockwise moment of force F = F x 2 or 2F N.m
Turning anticlockwise direction to be positive
Resultant moment = (2F – 300) N.m

Example 7
To turn the drum, resultant moment should be greater
than zero. So:
2F – 300 > 0
300 N m
F>
2m
F > 150 N

Example 7
Ex 8. A pair of cutters is used to cut a rope.
Where should the rope be positioned and which labelled
points should the hands be positioned to produce the
greatest cutting force?
Rope positioned Hands positioned
A P R
B P S
C Q R
D Q S

Answer is D

Example 8
Q1. Someone is trying to balance a beam with stones, as
shown. The beam has negligible weight.
a. Calculate the moment of the 4 N force about O
b. Calculate the moment of the 6 N force about O
c. Will the beam balance? If not, which way will it tip?
d. What extra force is needed at point P to balance the
beam?
e. In which direction must the force at P act?

Homework
Q2. The plank shown is in equilibrium. Find:
a. The load x that balances the plank
b. The reaction or upward force
c. If moments are taken about P, what is the total
clockwise and anticlockwise moments about P
d. Comparing moments about P, does the principle of
moments apply there?

Homework
Q3. The diagram on the right shows a model crane. The
crane has a counterbalance weighing 400 N, which can be
moved further or closer to O to cope with different loads.
(With no load or counterbalance the top section would
balance at point O)
a. With the 100 N load shown, how far from O should the
counterbalance be placed?
b. What is the maximum load the crane can safely lift?

Homework
Q4. The figure shows three positions of the pedal on a
bicycle which has a crank 0.20 m long. If the cyclist exerts
the same vertically downward push of 25 N with his foot,
in which case, A, B or C, is the turning effect:
I. 25 × 0.2 = 5 N m,
II. 0,
III. between 0 and 5 N m?

 Explain your answers.

Homework
Q5. An object is pivoted at point P. A student ties a length
of string to a peg on the object. He pulls the string with a
force F.
What is the moment of the force F about the point P?

Homework