Moments

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  • Created by: Sophie
  • Created on: 04-05-13 10:50
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  • Turning Forces and the Centre of Mass
    • A moment is the turning effect of a force
      • Moment= force x perpendicular distance from line of action to pivot
      • E.g spanner
        • Force on spanner causes turning effect on the nut (pivot).
        • A larger force means a larger moment
        • Longer spanner
          • Same force can exert a larger moment bacause the perpendicular distance from the pivot is larger
        • To get the maximum moment you need to push at right angles (perpendicular) to the spanner
    • Centre of mass
      • Hangs directly below point of suspension
      • Centre of mass= the point at which the whole mass is concentrated
      • Suspend a shape and plumb line from the same point and wait until the stop moving
        • Draw a line along the plumb line
          • Do the same thing again, but suspend the shape from a different pivot point
            • The centre of mass is where your two lines cross
      • In symmetircal shapes you can guess by looking for lines of symmetry
    • The object's weight acts at a distance from the pivot, which creates a moment about the pivot
      • This makes is swing until the centre of mass is at its lowest
        • It rests in this position because there is no moment- the pivot is in line with the line of action of the force

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