Third Year Science
Moments, Levers and
Centre of Gravity
In this topic:
• Levers
• Moment of a force
• Centre of Gravity
Levers
Levers are everywhere!
Levers
Lever: a rigid body that can rotate (pivot)
around a fixed point
Fulcrum: the fixed point when using a
lever
Examples of levers:
• Door handle
• Wheelbarrow
• Wrench
How a Lever Works
Fulcrum fixed point around which the lever turns
The force (usually a weight) that you want
Load to move
Effort Force applied by YOU
EFFORT
FULCRUM
How a lever works
There are 3 terms associated with levers
• Force (or effort)
• Load
• Fulcrum
Where is the
Fulcrum?
Moment
What happens when you try to
open a door with one finger?
Where do you push?
Hi, my
name is
Mr Stick
hinges
Do you push near the hinges?
I can’t do it!
Do you push far from the hinges?
That’s easier!
The turning effect of a force
depends on two things:
1. The size of the force
Obviously!
The turning effect of a force
depends on two things:
2. The distance from the fulcrum (axis of rotation)
Not quite
so obvious!
Fulcrum
Moment
Moment: the turning effect of a force
It is equal to the force multiplied by the
perpendicular distance from the fulcrum
Moment
Perpendicular distance from
Moment = Force x fulcrum to line of action of
the force
Units: Newton
metres (Nm)
Calculate the moment of the force in the
diagram below
Moment = Force x ⊥
distance from fulcrum
to line of force action
• Force = 7 N
• ⊥ distance from fulcrum to force action = 0.8 m
• Moment of the force = 7 N x 0.8 m
• Moment of the force = 5.6 Nm
5N
3. Which direction
1. What does 2. What is will the
thisForce
number Fulcrum
this?
Anti-clockwise
see-saw turn?
Mean?
5N
Force Fulcrum Anti-clockwise
How can we increase the size
of the moment (the turning effect)?
Fulcrum
Distance from
force to fulcrum
Force
(effort)
10cm
5N
50 Ncm
Fulcrum
Calculate the moment (turning effect) of the force
applied to the see-saw. Give the units.
5cm
5N
25 Ncm
fulcrum
Calculate the moment (turning effect) of the force
applied to the see-saw. Give the units.
10cm
10N
100 Ncm
fulcrum
Calculate the moment (turning effect) of the force
applied to the see-saw. Give the units.
Law of the Lever
When a lever is balanced, the sum of the
clockwise moments equals the sum of the
anticlockwise moments
The girl on the left exerts The girl on the right exerts
an anti-clockwise moment a clockwise moment
When an object is balanced it is in
equilibrium
10m 10m
Left Right
Moment Moment
100 Nm 100 Nm
10N 10N
fulcrum
see-saw
The The istheofforces
moments But are
BALANCED. why?balanced
10m 7m
Left Right
Moment Moment
100 Nm 70 Nm
10N 10N
fulcrum
But what happens if the blue dragon moves
in a little?
10m 7m
Left Right
Moment Moment
100 Nm 70 Nm
10N 10N
fulcrum
The moment of force on the left is bigger
10m 10m
Left Right
Moment Moment
100 Nm 200 Nm
10N 20N
fulcrum
What happens if the blue dragon gets fatter?
10m 10m
Left Right
Moment Moment
100 Nm 200 Nm
10N 20N
fulcrum
The moment of the force is greater on the right
10m 10m
Left Right
Moment Moment
100 Nm 200 Nm
10N 20N
fulcrum
But can we balance them both again? How?
10m 5m
Left Right
Moment Moment
100 Nm 100 Nm
10N 20N
fulcrum
By reducing the distance from the fulcrum for the
blue dragon
Centre of Gravity
Centre of Gravity
Centre of Gravity: A point through which all
of the weight of an object appears to act
Or it can also be described as:
The point from which an object
balances
Centre of Gravity
• If a fulcrum is set up at the centre of gravity, it
will balance
• A metre stick’s centre of gravity is at 50 cm
Activity: To find the centre of
gravity of a thin lamina
• Pin the lamina to
the cork through 1
hole and hang the
plumb line
• Mark out the line
• Repeat through
other 2 holes
Activity: To find the centre of gravity
of a thin lamina
• Centre of gravity = Where all 3 lines intersect
Equilibrium
• Remember:
Equilibrium: when an object is balanced
and still
• A metre stick hung at 50 cm (its centre of
gravity) is in equilibrium
3 States of Equilibrium
StableEquilibrium
Theballwillreturntothesame
positionifgivenaslightpush
UnstableEquilibrium
Theballwillnotreturntothe
samepositionifgivenaslight
push
NeutralEquilibrium
Theballwillreturntoasimilar
positionifgivenaslightpush
Stability
If objects are stable, they won’t fall over easily
If the object’s weight acts
from the centre of gravity,
through its base, it is stable
If the object’s weight acts
from the centre of gravity,
outside its base, it is unstable
and will fall
Stability
• To improve stability:
1. Use a wide base
2. Lower the centre of
gravity
Chapter 35: Moments, Levers
and Centre of Gravity
DONE!!
