How are moments defined and used in physics?

[princejan7]

moment of a force, magnetic moment, moment of momentum etc

what is a moment in general?

 

[paisiello2]

A moment is a force acting on a lever arm that will try to cause a rotation about an axis. Some people like to use the word torque instead.

 

[adjacent]

See this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moment_(physics )

In physics, moment relates to the perpendicular distance from a point to a line or a surface, and is derived from the mathematical concept of moments.[1] It is frequently used in combination with other physical quantities as in moment of inertia, moment of force, moment of momentum, magnetic moment and so on.