A force or a system of forces may cause an object to rotate.
You should be able to describe examples in which forces cause rotation.
The turning effect of a force is called the moment of the force.
The size of the moment is defined by the equation:
moment of a force = force × distance from the turning point (or fulcrum)
M = Fd
M = moment of a force, in newton-metres, Nm
F = force, in newtons, N
d = distance, is the perpendicular distance from the pivot (fulcrum - turning point) to the line of action of the force, in metres, m
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If an object is balanced, the total clockwise moment about a pivot equals the total anticlockwise moment about that pivot.
You should be able to calculate the size of a force, or its distance from a pivot, acting on an object that is balanced.
A simple lever and a simple gear system can both be used to transmit the rotational effects of forces.
You should be able to explain how levers and gears transmit the rotational effects of forces. |