I have confusion understanding moments and couples

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concepts of moments of forces and couples in mechanics, focusing on their properties as free vectors and the implications of changing reference points. Participants explore how to compute moments about different points and the distinctions between moments of forces and couples.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether moments of forces and couples can be treated as free vectors, specifically asking if a moment computed about one point can be moved to another point without altering the system.
  • Another participant states that the value of angular momentum and torque is dependent on the choice of origin, suggesting that this may contribute to the confusion.
  • A participant defines a couple as two equal and opposite forces separated by a distance and asserts that the magnitude of the couple is a free vector, contrasting it with the moment of a force.
  • There is a discussion about the expression for the moment of several forces and whether it can be computed using information from a different point, with some participants expressing uncertainty about the conditions under which this is possible.
  • One participant expresses confusion over the interchangeability of moments of forces and couples in problems, indicating a lack of clarity in the distinction between the two concepts.
  • Another participant emphasizes that the moment of a couple about any point is simply the couple itself, suggesting that the moment's value does not depend on the choice of origin.
  • Concerns are raised about the necessity of knowing the locations of forces and points when calculating moments, with some participants arguing that without this information, certain calculations cannot be performed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether moments can be freely moved between points and the implications of reference points on calculations. There is no consensus on the interchangeability of moments of forces and couples, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the conditions under which moments can be computed about different points.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the importance of knowing the positions of forces and reference points when discussing moments, indicating that assumptions about their locations may affect the validity of certain calculations.

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TL;DR
I have confusion understanding moments of forces and moments of couples in cartesian co-ordinate system
1) are all Moments of forces and Moments of couples free vectors? Can I move the moment vector computed about point O to a new point "point B" without changing the system? To elaborate on the question, suppose Resultant Moment about point O is computed using several forces and the position vectors to their points of action. My goal is to find Moment of the same forces about Point B. If moments are free vectors, I should be able to move the moment about O to the point B without changing the system. but It seems wrong to me.
2) moment of several forces about point S is known and I need to find moment of the same forces about point P, is this doable using the info about point S? i.e; info of position vector from P to S and secondly moment about S?
 
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Value of angular momentum and torque depends on choice of origin in the coordinate.
L=r \times pN=r \times F
Your ambiguity depends on this ?
 
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A couple is 2 equal and opposite forces F separated by a distance d. The magnitude of the couple is F(d). A free vector. Not the same as the moment of a force, as explained above.
 
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PhanthomJay said:
free vector.
N=r_1 \times F_1 + r_2 \times F_2
r_2-r_1=d, F_2=-F_1=-F
N=-d \times F_1=d \times F_2= d/2 \times F_2 + (-d/2) \times F_1
Value of N is free from choice of origin in the coordinate. Explicitly mentioning where forces are applied as F(r)
N= d/2 \times F_2(r_1+d) + (-d/2) \times F_1(r_1)=N(r_1,d; F)
##N(r_1,d; F) ## seems not free from ##r_1## and ##d## that tell where the forces apply. Am I right?
 
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PhanthomJay said:
A couple is 2 equal and opposite forces F separated by a distance d. The magnitude of the couple is F(d). A free vector. Not the same as the moment of a force, as explained above.

thanks, What confuses me the most is they interchange Moment of Forces and Couples in problems without any distinction. If I'm getting this right, the answer of this should be
2) moment of several forces about point S is known and I need to find moment of the same forces about point P, is this doable using the info about point S? i.e; info of position vector from P to S and secondly moment about S?
Ans: I can't find Moment about S using the info on Moment about P
 
tex]N= d/2 \times F_2(r_1+d) + (-d/2) \times F_1(r_1)=N(r_1,d; F)[/tex]
##N(r_1,d; F) ## seems not free from ##r_1## and ##d## that tell where the forces apply. Am I right?
What’s this? You have your moments about a point in (force x distance squared) units , which makes no sense. The moment of a couple about any point is the couple itself.
 
jukos said:
thanks, What confuses me the most is they interchange Moment of Forces and Couples in problems without any distinction. If I'm getting this right, the answer of this should be

Ans: I can't find Moment about S using the info on Moment about P
Unless you know where is point P and where the forces are located, it can’t be solved except if the forces happen to be couples
 
PhanthomJay said:
What’s this? You have your moments about a point in (force x distance squared) units , which makes no sense. The moment of a couple about any point is the couple itself.
Value of dual force does not depend on the choice of origin or where they are.
Where they are, I said ##r_1,d##, is important information to know so that we do not search them in the air.
 

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