physics unit 3

• The turning effect of a force is called the moment.
• a moment can increased by increasing the size of the force and increasing the distance from the pivot/centre point
• moments are measure in newton metres: Nm

fomula:

moment = force x perpendicular distance from where the force is being applied.

• the centre of mass of an object is where the mass is thought to be most concentrated.
• an object that is being suspended will always return to a point where its centre of mass is directly below the point of suspension. the object is then at equilibrium meaning there is no turning force.
• the centre of mass for a symmetrical object run along it's lines of symmetry.

for an object to be in equilibrium:

the sum of all the clockwise moments about any point

=

the sum of all anticlockwise moments about that point.

or

(force1 x distance 1) = (force 2 x distance 2)

to increase stability:

• increasing the width of the objects base
• lowering the centre of mass

an object will topple over if its line of action of its weight acts outside its base

(imagine a line along the centre of mass is acting straight down and this line goes outside of the base of an objectas the object tilts.)

when an object moves around a circle at a constant speed:

• the object accelerates continuously towards the centre of the circle.