Moments forces and their effect

• Moment of a force

  The turning effect produced when force or a system of forces causes an object to turn or rotate about a pivot

  
• Pivot (fulcrum)


  The point about which moments act in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction

  
• Line of action (of a force)

  The line along which the a force acts that passes through the point that the force is applied

  
• M = Fd


  The equation linking moment of a force, force and distance (perpendicular distance between the line of action of the force and the pivot)

  
• M


  The symbol for moment of a force

  
• F


  The symbol for force

  
• d


  The symbol for distance

  
• Newton-metre (Nm)


  The SI unit for moment of a force
• Newtons (N)

  The SI unit for force

  
• Metres (m)


  The SI unit for distance

  
• Newton-centimetres


  An commonly used unit for moment of a force when the distance is measured in centimetres (cm)
• Newton-millimetres


  An commonly used unit for moment of a force when the distance is measured in millimetres (mm)
• Principle of moments


  When the total clockwise moment about a pivot is equal to the total anticlockwise moment