FORCE

~ By Sudarshan S Kulkarni
Force
•Part A: Moment of Force & Equilibrium

•Part B: Centre of Gravity

•Part C: Uniform Circular Motion

 Part A: Moment of Force & Equilibrium
(Scope of syllabus)

• Elementary introduction of translational and rotational

motion.
• Moment (turning effect) of a force.
• Torque, its CGS & SI units
• Common examples
• Clockwise & Anti clockwise moments .
• Condition for a body to be in equilibrium
• Principle of moments and its verification using metre rule.
• Simple numerical problems.
Translational (Linear ) Motion
• When a force acts on a
stationary rigid body which is
free to move, the body starts
moving in a straight path in
direction of the force.
• Eg: pushing a ball on floor.
Rotational Motion
• If a body is pivoted at a point
and the force applied on the
body at a suitable point, rotates
the body about an axis passing
through he pivoted point. This
turning effect of the force and
the motion of the body is called
the rotational motion.
• Eg: Force applies on door.
Moment of Force
• A force F, is applied horizontally is applied on a body pivoted at point
O.
• This force will not be able to produce a linear motion in the direction
of the force, but will turn the body (rotates the body) about vertical
axis passing through O.

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Factors affecting the turning of the body

• Magnitude of the force applied

• Distance of the line of action of the force
from the axis of the rotation.

• The product is called as moment of force or torque.

• Hence the body rotates due to the moment of force or the torque
about the pivoted point.
Measurement of moment of force (torque)
• The moment of force is equal to the product of the
magnitude of the force and the perpendicular
distance of the line of the action of the force from
the axis of rotation.

• Moment of force = Force × Perpendicular distance

Note:
Units of Moment of force
• Units of moment of force
• = unit of force × unit of perpendicular distance
= newton × metre (SI)
= dyne × centimetre (CGS)
If force is considered in gravitational unit , then the units would be
= kgf × m
= gf × cm
Units are related as follows

•1 N m = 105 dyne × 102 cm

= 107 dyne cm

1 kgf × m = 9.8 N m

1 gf × cm = 980 dyne cm
Clockwise Anti Clockwise
 Clockwise & Anticlockwise moments
• The effect on the body is to turn the body in
anticlockwise direction , the moment of force is called
anti clockwise moment and it is taken as positive.
• The effect on the body is to turn the body in
clockwise direction , the moment of force is called
clockwise moment and it is taken as negative.

• The moment of force is a vector quantity.

• Direction of anticlockwise moment is along the axis of rotation outwards.
• Direction of clockwise moment is along the axis of rotation inwards.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22VGQM1jCn8
Direction of rotation depends on
• On applying the force on a
pivoted body, the direction of
rotation depends on
a) the point of application of the
force
b) the direction of the force
Common examples of Moment of force…
1) Opening a door.
To open door we apply force
normal to door handle at P which
provides maximum distance from
hinges.
If we apply force at Q or R??
• 2) Hand flour grinder
The handle in the Hand flour
grinder is provided near the rim so
that it can be easily rotated about
the iron pivot at its centre.
• 3) Steering wheel
Force applied tangentially on
the rim of the wheel.

The sense of rotation of wheel can

be changed by changing the point of
application of force without
changing the direction of the force.
Force at point A
Force at point B
• 4) Foot pedal of bicycle
To turn the wheel anticlockwise
small force is applied on the pedal
of the toothed wheel of size
bigger than the rear wheel.
• 5) Spanner
Spanner used to loosen or
tighten a nut, has a long handle to
produce large moment of force
applied normally at the end of the
handle.
Loosening the screw ??
Tightening the screw??
Conclusion
• The turning of the body about an axis depends not only on
magnitude of force but it also depends on the perpendicular
distance of the line of action of applied force from the axis of rotation.

Larger the perpendicular distance, lesser is the force needed to turn

the body.
• Single force does not produce rotation of the body.
• The rotation is always produced by the pair of forces.
• Above examples, externally applied force and the force of reaction at
the pivot point produced rotation.
• The force of reaction at the pivot is equal in magnitude, but opposite
in direction to the applied force.
• The moment of force of reaction about the pivot is zero, since the
distance axis of the rotation is zero.
• Such a pair of forces is called as Couple.

Two equal and opposite parallel forces , not acting along the same line,
form a couple.
 Couple…
• When we open the door, the
rotation of door is produced
by the couple consisting of
two forces
a) the force which we exert
at the handle of the door.
b) an equal and opposite
force of reaction at the
hinge
• If we require larger turning effect, the two forces equal in magnitude
and opposite in direction are applied on the body explicitly such that
forces turn the body in the same direction
Examples….
Moment of a couple
• AB is a bar pivoted at point O.
• At A and B, tow equal and opposite
forces, each of magnitude F are
applied.
• Perpendicular distance between A
and B is d, also called couple arm.
• Each force has a turning effect on
the bar in the same direction. Thus
the two forces together form a
couple which rotates the bar at
point O.
 Equilibrium….

• When we apply a number of forces on a

body such that resultant of all forces is
zero, so they do not change the state
of rest or motion of the body, the
algebraic sum of all the forces
about a fixed point is zero, so they
do not change the rotational state
of the body, then the body is said to be in
equilibrium.
Kinds of equilibrium
• Static Equilibrium
• Dynamic equilibrium

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEc5px9dCU4
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBnsls12MRA
Static Equilibrium

• When a body remains in the

state of rest under the influence of
several forces, the body is in
the state of static equilibrium.
• Eg: A body lying on a table.
Examples of Static Equilibrium
• The beam is balanced in
horizontal direction.
• The clockwise moment due to
the object in the one pan
balances the anticlockwise
moment in the weight in the
other pan.
Examples of Static Equilibrium
• Book lying on table ,
• The weight exerted on the table
in the vertically downward
direction is balanced by the
equal and opposite force of
reaction exerted by the table on
the book.
Dynamic equilibrium

• When a body remains in the same state of motion (translational

or rotational) under the influence of several forces, the body is
said to be in dynamic equilibrium.
• Eg:
• Rain drop falling on the earth.
• Aeroplane moving at a constant height
• Stone tied at the end of the string when whirled in a circular path.
Examples of Dynamic Equilibrium
• Rain drop reaching the surface
of earth with constant velocity
• Weight of the falling drop is
balanced by the sum of the
buoyant forces, and force due to
friction of air, hence net force on
the drop is zero and it moves
with constant velocity
• Aeroplane moving at a constant
height.
• The upward lift balances the
weight of the plane in the
downward direction.
• Stone tied to the end of the
string whirled in a circular path
with uniform speed.
• Tension in the string provides
the centripetal force required for
circular motion
• Motion of planets around the
sun.
Conditions for equilibrium
• For a body to be in equilibrium the following conditions must be
satisfied
• A) The resultant of all the forces acting on the body should be zero.
• B) The algebraic sum of the moments of all the forces acting on the
body should be zero. i.e. the sum of anticlockwise moments should
be equal to the sum of clockwise moments about the axis.
Principle of Moments
Verification of principle of moments
• We will conduct this in practical
Part B: Centre of Gravity
(Scope of syllabus)

• Centre of gravity.
• Centre of gravity of some irregular shapes.
• Determination of c.g. of an irregular lamina by method of plumb line.
 Centre of gravity
• The centre of gravity (C.G.) of a body is the point about which the algebraic
sum of moments of weights of all the particles constituting the body is
zero.
• The entire weight of the body can be considered to
act at this point, howsoever the body is placed.
The position of CG of a body of given mass depends
on its shape, i.e. on the distribution of mass.
The CG will change if body is deformed.
The CG is not necessary that the centre of gravity
always be within the material of the body.
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• Force of gravity on a particle which is called the weight of the body.
• Consider a body made up of particles w1, w2. w3,….
• The entire weight W acts on a one point G.
• The algebraic sum of all the moments due to weights
w1, w2,… of each particle about the point G is zero.
This point G is called the centre of gravity.
Note:
 Determination of c.g. of an irregular lamina by
method of plumb line.

We will do this in practical

Question Time
• At which point is the C.G. situated in
a) triangular lamina
b) circular lamina

State True or False:

1) The c.g. of a freely suspended body always lies vertically below the
point of suspension.
2) The position of c.g. of a body remains unchanged even when the
body is deformed.
Part C: Uniform Circular Motion
(Scope of syllabus)
• Examples of constant speed and varying acceleration.
• Difference between centripetal and centrifugal force.
Uniform Circular motion
• When a particle moves with a constant speed in a circular path,
its motion is said to be the uniform circular motion.
• Particle travels equal distances along circular path in equal intervals of
time, so the speed is uniform, but the direction of motion of the
particle changes at each point of circular path.
• Continuous change in the direction of motion implies velocity is non
uniform, i.e. motion is accelerated.
 Direction of velocity at any instant in a
circular path.
• Particle is moving in a circular path
with uniform speed v in
anticlockwise direction. If T is time
needed for the particle to complete
one rotation. T/4 is time needed
for each arc, AB, BC,CD and DA.
• Hence speed is uniform, but
direction keeps on changing.
• At any point, the direction of
motion is along the tangent drawn
at that point of the circular path.
 Points Direction of motion
A Towards North
B Towards West
C Towards South
D Towards East

Thus, the velocity of particle in a circular motion is variable or the circular motion is accelerated even though the
speed of the particle is uniform.
Difference between UCM & ULM (to be
written)

Uniform Circular Motion Uniform Linear Motion

1) Velocity is variable but 1) Speed and Velocity are
speed is uniform constant

2) It is an accelerated motion 2) Acceleration is zero i.e.

ULM is an unaccelerated
motion
Centripetal Force
• In circular motion, at each point in a circular path, the
particle continuously changes its direction of motion.
• The motion in circular path is possible only under the
influence of force which is termed as centripetal force .
• Centripetal mean: centre seeking.
• At each point of circular path, the force is directed
towards the centre of the circle. Thus direction of
acceleration also changes at each point of the circular
path, but its magnitude remains the same, i.e.
acceleration is variable (non uniform).
• Hence the force which acts towards the centre is
called the centripetal force.
Some examples of Centripetal force
• Electrons inside an atom, move
in a circular path for which the
centripetal force of attraction is
obtained from the electrostatic
force of attraction of the
negatively charged electrons by
the positively charged nucleus.
• Planet moves around the sun in
a circular path for which the
gravitational force of attraction
on the planet by the sun
provides the necessary
centripetal force.
• Moon moves around the earth
in a circular path for which the
gravitational force of attraction
on the moon by the earth
provides the centripetal force.
 • Stone tied at the end of the
string is whirled in a circular
path, the tension in the string
holding the stone at the other
end , provides the necessary
centripetal force.

In all the above examples the body moves in a circular path under the influence of
dynamic equilibrium
Centrifugal force
• A force acting on a body away from the centre of circular path
is called the centrifugal force.
• This force is in the direction opposite to the direction of
centripetal force.
• Magnitude same as centripetal force.
• Centrifugal force is NOT force of reaction of centripetal force. (action
and reaction do not act on same body)
• It is not a real force (pseudo force)
Activity
Let’s understand this….
Case
Merry go round example…
Conclusion
• Centrifugal force is not a real force, its an fictitious force.
• The only force involved here is force of tensioning the string acting
towards the centre.
Questions
• A piece of stone tied at the end of a thread is whirled in a horizontal
circle with uniform speed with the help of a hand. Answer the
following questions
a) Is the velocity of the stone uniform or variable?
b) Name the force and its direction which acts on the hand,
c) Is the acceleration of the stone uniform or variable?
d) What is the direction of acceleration of stone at any instant?
Questions
• State True or False
1) The earth moves around the sun with a uniform velocity.
2) The motion of moon around the earth in circular path is an
accelerated motion.

Is centrifugal force a real force ?

Is it possible to have accelerated motion with a constant speed? Name

such type of motion.