4.

4 Principle of Moments
Also known as Varigon's Theorem
Let's say we have several concurrent
forces.
We can determine its resultant

R F1 F2 ...

The moment of R about 0, where r is the position vector from 0 to a point on the
line of action of R .

MO r R

]M O r ( F1 F2 ...)

M O r F1 r F2 ...

The moment about a given point 0 of the resultant of several concurrent forces is
equal to the sum of the moments of the various forces about the same point 0.
4.5 Moment of a force about a specified axis

MO

A
0

x
z

Def: The moment M of F about is the projection OC of the moment M O on axis .

M u M O u (r F )

A triple scalar product

May be written as:

4.6 Moment of a couple

ux

u ( r F ) rx

uy

uz

ry

rz

Fx

Fy

Fz

Def: Couple - 2 forces F and F having the same magnitude, parallel lines of
action, and opposite direction.
d
d

F y 0

but will rotate!

Suppose we have

M rA F rB ( F )

M ( rA rB ) F

rB

But: rB r rA r rA rB

Thus: M r F

Summing
moments
about O.

rA

Note that the right hand

side has NO reference to 0, thus M is the same for ANY

moments center. M is a free vector.

Think of it this way: F creates a moment about some point, F , creates another
moment about the same point, usually in the opposite direction. The difference between
these 2 moments is always the same.

As long as the magnitude and direction of M does not change, you have equivalent
couples.
In the scalar world:
d

M Fd

1). Given: A device called a rolamite is used to replace slipping motion with rolling
motion. If the belt, which wraps between the rollers, is subjected to a
tension
of 15 N, determine the reactive forces N of the top and bottom
plates on the
rollers so that the resultant couple acting on the rollers is
equal to zero.
.

Solution:
M N MT

N 50 cos(30) 15 75
T 26 N

2). Given: The rodshown below is supported by two brackets at A and B. Given that the
magnitude of F is 700 N.

A (0,0,0,)
B (0.4,0.2,0)
C (0,6,0,0.3)
D (0,0.2,0)

Find: The moment about axis AB M AB due to F .

M AB u AB .(rAC F )

rAC 0.6i 0 j 0.3k

(0 0.6)i (0.2 0) j (0 0.3)k

F Fu CD 700

2
2
2
0
.
6

0
.
2

0
.
3

F 600i 200
j 600k

0.4i 0.2 j 0k

u AB
0.894i 0.447 j
0.4 2 0.2 2

M AB

0.894
0.6
600

0.447
0
200

0
0.3 0.894[(0)( 300) ( 200)(0.3)] 0.447[(0.6)(300) ( 600)(0.3)]
300

M AB 53.64 Nm

3). Given:

F i 3 j

lbs

A (4,-1)
B (3,2)

0' (2,-2)

0'

Find: M O and M O due to the couple

'

M O rOA F rOB ( F ) )
i

rOA F 4

j
1

rOB ( F )

rOA 4i j

rOB 3i 2 j

k
0 0i 0 j ( 4(3) ( 1)(1)) k 13k

ft lbs

0
k

3
1

2
3

0 0i 0 j (3( 3) ( 1)(2))k 7 k
0

ft lbs

M O 13k 7 k M O 6k ft lbs

M O rBA F
i

rBA F 1
1

rBA i 3 j
j
3
3

k
0 0i 0 j (1(3) (1)(3)) k 6k

ft lbs

M O ' rO ' A F rO ' B ( F )

rO ' A 2i j

rO ' B i 4 j

rO ' A F 2

j
1

k
0 0i 0 j ( 2(3) (1)(1)) k 5k

rO ' B ( F )

1
1

4
3

ft lbs

k
0 0i 0 j (1( 3) ( 1)( 4))k 1k
0

M O ' 5k 1k M O ' 6k ft lbs

ft lbs