I understand a moment is a weight being moved by a particular distance. Although I am unable to establish what weight by how far would make a moment.
eg 1 pound by 1 inch
1 pound by 1 foot
1 ton by 1 foot
1 Kg by ???
Explanation please.
Mike
You do not have to have motion to have a moment. "Moment" or "torque" is a measure of the strength or ability of a force to rotate something about an axis. The moment of a force always refers to a particular axis, and the axis can be arbitrarily defined. Multiply the force by the "lever arm" from the point where the force is applies to the axis of rotation. (Actual rotation does not have top take place). The only part of the force that matters when computing moment is the component perpendicular to the line between the force application point and the axis of rotation.
Thank you drwls.
I have seen a moment used in the calculation of steel beams used in the construction industry and ship stability calculations. The thing I do not understand is what I referred to in my question.
What weight (mass) by what distance is a moment?
Mike
A moment can be described as the product of a force and its perpendicular distance from a reference point or axis. The weight or mass of an object is not directly related to the concept of a moment. Rather, it is the force applied to an object that determines the moment.
To calculate the moment, you need to multiply the force applied to an object by the perpendicular distance between the point of application and the reference axis. This distance is often referred to as the "lever arm" or "moment arm."
Let's take your examples to understand better:
1. 1 pound by 1 inch: If a force of 1 pound is applied perpendicular to an axis at a distance of 1 inch, the moment is 1 pound-inch.
2. 1 pound by 1 foot: Similarly, if a force of 1 pound is applied perpendicular to an axis at a distance of 1 foot (12 inches), the moment is 12 pound-feet.
3. 1 ton by 1 foot: If a force of 1 ton (2000 pounds) is applied perpendicular to an axis at a distance of 1 foot, the moment is 2000 pound-feet.
4. 1 kg by ??? : To determine the moment when a force of 1 kg is applied, we need to know the distance, or lever arm, between the point of application and the reference axis. Without that information, we cannot calculate the moment accurately.
In summary, a moment is not solely determined by the weight or mass of an object. It depends on the force applied and the perpendicular distance between the point of application and the reference axis.