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Year 9

Turning forces

I can investigate and calculate the size of turning forces.

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New
New
Year 9

Turning forces

I can investigate and calculate the size of turning forces.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A moment causes turning.
  2. Moment = force × (perpendicular) distance from the pivot.
  3. Moments are measured in Newton-metres (Nm).

Common misconception

The turning effect is a force (it is often wrongly called a turning force).

Correct any use of the erroneous term ‘turning force’ and use examples of the turning effect caused by force with a lever.

Keywords

  • Balanced - A beam is balanced if it is not starting to rotate about its pivot.

  • Newton-metre - One unit for the turning effect of a force is the newton-metre (N m).

  • Newton-centimetre - Another unit for the turning effect of a force is the newton-centimetre (N cm).

  • Moment - The turning effect of a force is called a moment.

Balance beams are much better than using masses on rules with pivots as they allow a little leeway with positioning. If rulers are used then distances to the nearest centimetre are good enough.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is not the result of there being a resultant force acting on an object?
A stationary object starts to move.
The shape of an object changes.
Correct answer: A stationary object remains stationary.
A moving object changes direction.
A moving object speeds up or slows down.
Q2.
Which of these objects do not make use of levers?
see-saw
screwdriver
door
Correct answer: hose pipe
Q3.
What name is given to the force that is applied to make a lever move?
Correct answer: effort
load
pulling force
pushing force
Q4.
What name is given to the force that is exerted by a lever?
effort
pushing force
pivot
Correct answer: load
Q5.
Levers are often used as force __________ as they produce larger load forces than the effort force used to move them.
Correct answer: multipliers
expanders
boosters
accelerators
Q6.
Which of these units can the size of the load force be measured in?
grams
Correct answer: newtons
kilograms
Correct answer: kilonewtons

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords and phrases to the explanations.
Correct Answer:newton-metre (Nm),a unit for the turning effect of a force for large distances

a unit for the turning effect of a force for large distances

Correct Answer:newton-centimetre (Ncm),a unit for the turning effect of a force for small distances

a unit for the turning effect of a force for small distances

Correct Answer:moment,the size of the turning effect of a force

the size of the turning effect of a force

Q2.
Which of these describes the conditions needed for two people to balance on a seesaw?
An image in a quiz
The weight of the people on each side must be the same.
The distance from the people to the pivot on each side must be the same.
Correct answer: The distances to the pivot multiplied by the weights must be the same.
The total weight must add up to zero.
They must be on the same side of the seesaw.
Q3.
Six masses are hung 5 cm from the left on this balance beam. Where on the right side should the three masses be hung to make the beam balance?
An image in a quiz
1 cm
4 cm
5 cm
8 cm
Correct answer: 10 cm
Q4.
A 4 N weight is placed 0.5 m from a pivot on a balance beam. Where should an 8 N weight be placed to balance the beam?
0.5 m on the opposite side of the pivot
1.0 m on the opposite side of the pivot
Correct answer: 0.25 m on the opposite side of the pivot
0.25 m on the same side of the pivot
0.5 m on the same side of the pivot
Q5.
Starting with the largest, put the following forces and distances from a pivot into order of decreasing size of the moment they will cause.
1 - distance = 1 m, force = 5 N
2 - distance = 1 m, force = 4 N
3 - distance = 50 cm, force = 2 N
4 - distance = 20 cm, force = 3 N
5 - distance = 25 cm, force = 2 N
Q6.
A pupil tests different combinations of force and distance on opposite sides of a balance beam. Which rows show combinations that will balance the beam?
An image in a quiz
A
B
Correct answer: C
D
Correct answer: E
Q3 UYSEG

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