Moment of Forces Worksheet
Moment of forces is an important concept in physics that describes the tendency of a force to
cause rotational motion around a specific point. Understanding how to calculate moments of
forces is crucial for analyzing the stability and equilibrium of systems.
Fill in the Blank: Fill in the blank with the correct words.
1. The __ of a force is the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the point of
rotation to the line of action of the force.
2. The unit of moment of force is __.
3. If the force acts along the line passing through the point of rotation, the moment of force is __ .
4. The __ rule states that the sum of the clockwise moments about a point is equal to the sum of
the anticlockwise moments about the same point.
5. A body is in __ when the sum of the moments of all the forces acting on it is zero.
Word bank: Newton-meter, zero, moment, equilibrium, Varignon's
Multiple Choice Questions: Choose the correct answer from the choices for each question.
1. What is the formula for calculating the moment of a force?
a) Moment = Force x Distance
b) Moment = Force / Distance
c) Moment = Force - Distance
d) Moment = Force + Distance
2. If a force of 10 N acts at a distance of 3 m from the point of rotation, what is the moment of
the force?
a) 30 N-m
b) 13 N-m
c) 7 N-m
d) 50 N-m
3. A force of 20 N acts at an angle of 60 degrees to the line of action. What is the moment of
the force about a point 4 m away?
a) 40 N-m
b) 34.64 N-m
c) 80 N-m
d) 60 N-m
4. Which of the following conditions must be met for a body to be in equilibrium?
a) The sum of all forces acting on the body is zero
b) The sum of all moments acting on the body is zero
c) Both the sum of all forces and the sum of all moments acting on the body are zero
d) The body must be stationary
5. A force of 15 N acts at a distance of 2 m from the point of rotation. What is the moment of
the force about that point?
a) 30 N-m
b) 7.5 N-m
c) 22.5 N-m
d) 45 N-m
Open Ended Questions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
1. Explain the relationship between the magnitude of a force and the distance from the point of
rotation in determining the moment of the force.
2. Describe the significance of Varignon's rule in the analysis of moments of forces.
3. Discuss the conditions necessary for a body to be in equilibrium, and how the concept of moments
of forces applies in this scenario.
Answer Key:
1. The moment of a force is the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the
point of rotation to the line of action of the force.
2. The unit of moment of force is Newton-meter (N-m).
3. If the force acts along the line passing through the point of rotation, the moment of force is
zero.
4. Varignon's rule states that the sum of the clockwise moments about a point is equal to the
sum of the anticlockwise moments about the same point.
5. A body is in equilibrium when the sum of the moments of all the forces acting on it is zero.
6. a) Moment = Force x Distance
7. a) 30 N-m
8. b) 34.64 N-m
9. c) Both the sum of all forces and the sum of all moments acting on the body are zero
10. a) 30 N-m
11. The moment of a force is directly proportional to the magnitude of the force and the distance
from the point of rotation. The greater the force and the distance, the larger the moment.
12. Varignon's rule is important because it allows us to analyze the equilibrium of a system by
considering the sum of the moments, rather than the individual forces acting on the body.
13. For a body to be in equilibrium, the sum of all forces acting on it must be zero (the body is
not accelerating) and the sum of all moments acting on it must also be zero (the body is not
rotating). This ensures that the body remains stationary and in a state of equilibrium.
