I have confusion understanding moments and couples

  • Thread starter Thread starter jukos
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Confusion Moments
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the distinction between moments of forces and moments of couples in mechanics. It establishes that moments of forces are not free vectors and cannot be arbitrarily moved between points without altering the system. The moment of a couple, defined as two equal and opposite forces separated by a distance, is a free vector and remains constant regardless of the point of reference. The confusion arises when these two concepts are interchanged in problem-solving, leading to incorrect conclusions about the relationship between moments at different points.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of vector mechanics and free vectors
  • Knowledge of moments and couples in physics
  • Familiarity with torque and angular momentum concepts
  • Ability to compute moments about different points in a system
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of vector mechanics in detail
  • Learn how to calculate moments of forces and couples using specific examples
  • Explore the relationship between torque and angular momentum in various systems
  • Investigate common mistakes in mechanics problems involving moments and forces
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, mechanical engineers, and anyone involved in the study of mechanics, particularly those focusing on the analysis of forces and moments in engineering applications.

jukos
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
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?
 
Last edited:
Engineering news on Phys.org
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 ?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: jukos
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.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: jukos and mitochan
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?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: jukos
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.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
813
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
4K
Replies
3
Views
6K