How are moments defined and used in physics?

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SUMMARY

A moment in physics is defined as a force acting on a lever arm that induces rotation about an axis, often referred to as torque. The concept encompasses various types, including moment of inertia, moment of force, moment of momentum, and magnetic moment. Moments are fundamentally linked to the perpendicular distance from a point to a line or surface, and they are derived from mathematical principles. Understanding moments is crucial for analyzing rotational dynamics in physical systems.

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

what is a moment in general?
 
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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.
 
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.
 
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