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STATICS
(ENGINEERING MECHANICS-I)

LECTURE #4
Moment

By

GE 201: Dr. Nadeem A. Siddiqui May 25, 2017

 Contents
2

 Objectives of the present lecture

 Moment: Scalar definition
 Moment about a point
 Clockwise and counterclockwise moments
 Zero moments
 Moment: A real life application
 Moment: Vector definition
 Varignon’s theorem
 Problems
 Further reading

GE 201: Dr. Nadeem A. Siddiqui May 25, 2017

 Objectives of the Present lecture
3

 To explain scalar and vector definitions of moment of a

force about an axis
 To derive expressions for scalar and vector calculations of
moment of a given force about a point
 To illustrate the use of above expressions through a simple
example

GE 201: Dr. Nadeem A. Siddiqui May 25, 2017

 Moment: Scalar definition
4

The tendency of a force to rotate a body about an axis is known as

the moment (M) of the force.
O
The magnitude of the moment about the
axis O-O normal to the plane of the body F
is proportional to
i. The force; and M 0
ii. The moment arm d
A 90
d
Thus, the scalar definition of moment is Line of action
M=F d of the force
O
Moment arm (d): Moment arm is the perpendicular distance from the axis to the line of action of the force.

Torque: Torque is a moment about longitudinal axis of the body.

GE 201: Dr. Nadeem A. Siddiqui May 25, 2017

 Moment about a point
5

 A line about which the body rotates

or has tendency to rotate is called
axis of rotation. O
 Moment of a force is always about
some axis of rotation.
 When dealing with forces all of
F
which act in a given plane, moment M 0
A 90
about a point is actually the d
moment about that axis which is (i)
normal to that plane in which Line of action
of the force
forces and point are and (ii)
O
passing through that point.
 Thus the moment of force F about
point A has the magnitude M=F d

GE 201: Dr. Nadeem A. Siddiqui May 25, 2017

 Clockwise and Counterclockwise moments
6

 If tendency of the force is to

rotate its moment arm in a
counter clockwise manner it is O
called counterclockwise moment
(CCW). We will assume CCW
moment as a positive moment F
(+). M 0
A 90
 If tendency of the force is to d
rotate its moment arm in a
clockwise manner it is called Line of action
of the force
clockwise moment (CW). We will O
assume CW moment as a
negative moment (-). A counterclockwise or (+) moment

GE 201: Dr. N. A. Siddiqui 5/25/2017

 Zero moments
7

 If line of action of the force intersects the

axis of rotation, there is no moment of the
force about this axis of rotation
 If line of action of the force is parallel to
the axis of rotation, there is no moment of
the force about this axis of rotation

GE 201: Dr. N. A. Siddiqui 5/25/2017

 Moment -A Real Life Application
8

When we have to open a

door by applying a force on
it; it is always desirable to
apply the force at a point
which provides largest
moment arm. In this case
one has to apply a
minimum force to rotate
the door about its axis.

GE 201: Dr. Nadeem A. Siddiqui May 25, 2017

 Moment: Vector Definition
9
   O
M  rF

r  Position vector that runs from the moment 
F
reference point A to any po int the line of action of F  
MA r 
 
Magnitude of M  M  M  rF sin  d

 M  Fr sin   Fd
O
Direction : The right - hand rule is used to identify the direction.
Thus the moment of F about O-O may be identified as a vector
pointing in the direction of thumb, with the fingers curled in the
direction of the tendency to rotate.

GE 201: Dr. N. A. Siddiqui 5/25/2017

 Varignon’s Theorem
10
The moment of a force
about any point is equal
to the sum of the O
moments of the
components of the force 
P 
about the same point.  F
M 
r 
A
Q
     
M  r  F  r  ( P  Q)
   
This image cann ot cur rently b e
displayed.

O
 r  P  r Q

GE 201: Dr. N. A. Siddiqui 5/25/2017

 Problem
11

For the figure shown below, find moment of 400 N force about point A using
1. Scalar approach
2. vector approach.

y
3m
O x
0
45

400 N 6m

GE 201: Dr. N. A. Siddiqui 5/25/2017

 Solution Part-1
12

Scalar Approach y
3m
O x
0
45

400 N 6m

M A  400 cos 450  6  400 sin 450  3

 M A  2545.2 N.m (Counterclock wise) Ans.

GE 201: Dr. N. A. Siddiqui 5/25/2017

 Solution Part-2
13

Vector Approach y
3m
(-3,0) O x
0
45

400 N 6m

(0,-6) A


F  400 cos 450 (iˆ)  400 sin 450 ( ˆj )  282.8iˆ  282.8 ˆj

r  ( x2  x1 )iˆ  ( y2  y1 ) ˆj  (3  0)iˆ  (0  (6)) ˆj  3iˆ  6 ˆj
iˆ ˆj kˆ
  
MA  r F  3 6 0  2545.2kˆ N.m Ans.
 282.8  282.8 0
GE 201: Dr. N. A. Siddiqui 5/25/2017
 Further Reading
14

Read more about moment of a force about a specified axis from:

RC Hibbeler (2010). Engineering Mechanics, Statics, Twelfth Edition,

Section 4.5, pp. 139-143.

GE 201: Dr. Nadeem A. Siddiqui May 25, 2017

 Thank You
15

GE 201: Dr. Nadeem A. Siddiqui May 25, 2017