Moment of force – problems and solutions
1. If FR is the net force of F1, F2, and F3, what is the magnitude of force F2 and x?
Known :
Net force (FR) = 40 N
Force 1 (F1) = 10 N
Force (F3) = 20 N
Wanted: The magnitude of force F2 and distance of x
Solution :
Find the magnitude of force F2 :
Force points to upward, signed negative and force points to downward, signed negative.
ΣF = 0
– FR + F1 + F2 – F3 = 0
– 40 + 10 + F2 – 20 = 0
– 30 + F2 – 20 = 0
– 50 + F2 = 0
F2 = 50 Newton.
Plus sign indicates that the direction of the force is upward.
Find x.
Choose A as the axis of rotation.
τ1 = F1 l1 = (10 N)(1 m) = 10 Nm
The torque 1 rotates beam counterclockwise so we assign positive sign to the torque 3.
τ2 = F2 x = (50)(x) = 50x Nm
The torque 1 rotates beam counterclockwise so we assign positive sign to the torque 3.
τ3 = F3 x = (20 N)(1.75 m) = -35 Nm
The torque 2 rotates beam clockwise so we assign negative sign to the torque 2.
The net of moment of force :
Στ = 0
10 + 50x – 35 = 0
50x – 25 = 0
50x = 25
x = 25/50
x = 0.5 m
2. Forces of F1, F2, F3, and F4 acts on the rod of ABCD as shown in figure. If rod’s mass ignored, what is the magnitude of the moment of force, about point A.
The axis of rotation = points A.
Known :
Force F1 = 10 N, the lever arm l1 = 0
Force F2 = 4 N, the lever arm l2 = 2 meters
Force F3 = 5 N, the lever arm l3 = 3 meters
Force F4 = 10 N, the lever arm l4 = 6 meters
Wanted : the moment of force about point A
Solution :
Moment of force 1 (τ1) = F1 l1 = (10)(0) = 0
Moment of force 2 (τ2) = F2 l2 = (4)(2) = -8 Nm
Moment of force 3 (τ3) = F3 l3 = (5)(3) = 15 Nm
Moment of force 4 (τ4) = F4 l4 = (10)(6) = -60 Nm
If torque rotates rod counterclockwise then we assign positive sign.
If torque rotates rod clockwise then we assign negative sign.
The resultant of the moment of force :
τ = 0 – 8 Nm + 15 Nm – 60 Nm
τ = -68 Nm + 15 Nm
τ = -53 Nm
Minus sign indicates that the moment of force rotates rod clockwise.
3. Three forces act on a rod, FA = FC = 10 N and FB = 20 N, as shown in figure below. If distance of AB = BC = 20 cm, what is the moment of force about point C.
Known :
The axis rotation at point C.
Distance between FA and the axis of rotation (rAC) = 40 cm = 0,4 meters
Distance between FB and the axis of rotation (rBC) = 20 cm = 0.2 meters
Distance between FC and the axis of rotation (rCC) = 0 cm
FA = 10 Newton
FB = 20 Newton
FC = 10 Newton
Wanted : The resultant of the moment of force about point C.
Solution :
Moment of force A :
ΣτA = (FA)(rAC sin 90o) = (10 N)(0,4 m)(1) = -4 N.m
Minus sign indicates that the moment of force rotates rod clockwise.
Moment of force B :
ΣτB = (FB)(rBC sin 90o) = (20 N)(0,2 m)(1) = 4 N.m
Plus sign indicates that the moment of force rotates rod counterclockwise.
Moment of force C :
ΣτC = (FC)(rCC sin 90o) = (10 N)(0)(1) = 0
The resultant of the moment of force :
Στ = Στ1 + Στ2 + Στ3
Στ = -4 + 4 + 0
Στ = 0 N.m
4. Length of a rod is 50 cm. Three forces act on the rod, as shown in figure below. If the axis of rotation is point C, what is the net of the moment of force.
Known :
The axis rotation at point C.
Distance between F1 and the axis of rotation is (r1) = 30 cm = 0,3 meters
Distance between F2 and the axis of rotation (r2) = 10 cm = 0,1 meters
Distance between F3 and the axis of rotation (r3) = 20 cm = 0,2 meters
F1 = 10 Newton
F2 = 10 Newton
F3 = 10 Newton
Wanted : Resultant of moment of force about point C.
Solution :
Moment of force 1 :
Στ1 = (F1)(r1 sin 90o) = (10 N)(0,3 m)(1) = -3 N.m
Minus sign indicates that the moment of force rotates rod clockwise.
Moment of force 2 :
Στ2 = (F2)(r2 sin 90o) = (10 N)(0,1 m)(1) = 1 N.m
Plus sign indicates that the moment of force rotates rod counterclockwise.
Moment of force 3 :
Στ3 = (F3)(r3 sin 30o) = (10 N)(0,2 m)(0,5) = -1 N.m
Minus sign indicates that the moment of force rotates rod clockwise.
The resultant of the moment of force :
Στ = Στ1 + Στ2 + Στ3
Στ = -3 + 1 – 1
Στ = -3 N.m
Minus sign indicates that the resultant of the moment of force rotates rod clockwise.
5. Three forces F1, F2, and F3 act on a rod as shown in figure below. Length of rod is 4 meters. What is the moment of force about point C.
(sin 53o = 0.8, cos 53o = 0.6, AB = BC = CD = DE = 1 meter)
Known :
The axis of rotation at point C.
Force 1 (F1) = 5 Newton
The distance between the line of action of F1 with the axis of rotation (r1) = 2 meters
Force 2 (F2) = 0.4 Newton
The distance between the line of action of F2 with the axis of rotation (r2) = 1 meter
Force 3 (F3) = 4.8 Newton
The distance between the line of action of F3 with the axis of rotation (r3) = 2 meter
Wanted: The moment of force about point C.
Solution :
Moment of force 1 :
τ1 = F1 r sin 53o = (5 N)(2 m)(0,8) = (10)(0,8) N = 8 N
Plus sign indicates that the moment of force rotates rod counterclockwise.
Moment of force 2 :
τ2 = F2 r sin 90o = (0,4 N)(1 m)(1) = -0,4 N
Minus sign indicates that the moment of force rotates rod clockwise.
Moment of force 3 :
τ3 = F3 r sin 90o = (4,8 N)(2 m)(1) = -9,6 N
Minus sign indicates that the moment of force rotates rod clockwise.
The resultant of the moment of force :
Στ = τ1 – τ2 – τ3 = 8 – 0,4 – 9,6 = 8 – 10 = 2 N.m
Plus sign indicates that the moment of force rotates rod counterclockwise.
6. What is the resultant of the moment of force about the axis of rotation at point O by forces acts on the rod, as shown in the figure below?
Known :
The axis of rotation at point O.
Force 1 (F1) = 6 Newton
The distance between the line of action of F1 with the axis of rotation (r1) = 1 meter
Force 2 (F2) = 6 Newton
The distance between the line of action of F2 with the axis of rotation (r2) = 2 meters
Force 3 (F3) = 4 Newton
The distance between the line of action of F3 with the axis of rotation (r3) = 2 meters
Wanted: The resultant of the moment of force about point C
Solution :
Moment of force 1 :
τ1 = F1 l1 = (6 N)(1 m) = 6 Nm
Plus sign indicates that the moment of force rotates rod counterclockwise.
Moment of force 2 :
τ2 = F2 r2 sin 30o = (6 N)(2 m)(0,5)= 6 Nm
Plus sign indicates that the moment of force rotates rod counterclockwise.
Moment of force 3 :
τ3 = F3 l3 = (4 N)(2 m) = -8 Nm
Minus sign indicates that the moment of force rotates rod clockwise.
The resultant of the moment of force :
Στ = τ1 + τ2 – τ3 = 6 + 6 – 8 = 4 N.m
Plus sign indicates that the moment of force rotates rod counterclockwise.