Rotation and Torque (Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies)

Object: To study the use of a balanced meter stick, the concept of torque and the conditions that must
be met for a body to be in rotational equilibrium.

Theory: When a rigid body with a fixed pivot point O, is acted upon by a force, there may be a
rotational change in velocity of the rigid body. In the diagram below, there is a force 𝐹⃗ that
is applied to the arm of the lever. The position relative to the pivot point O is defined by a vector
𝑟⃗. The two make an angle with each other 𝜑 (𝐹⃗ is in the plane of the paper). 𝐹⃗ may be resolved
into two components. The radial component 𝐹𝑟 points along 𝑟⃗ and does not rotate. The
tangential component 𝐹𝑡 is perpendicular to 𝑟⃗ and has the magnitude 𝐹𝑡 = 𝐹 ∗ sin 𝜑. This
component does cause rotation. The quantity 𝜏 is defined as

𝜏 = (𝑟)(𝐹 ∗ sin 𝜑)

There are two other ways of computing torque,

𝜏 = (𝑟)(𝐹 ∗ sin 𝜑) = 𝑟 ∗ 𝐹𝑡

𝜏 = (𝑟 ∗ sin 𝜑)(𝐹) = 𝑟⊥ ∗ 𝐹

Where we have 𝑟⊥ as a perpendicular distance between the rotation axis at the pivot and a line
extended from 𝐹⃗ . The extended line is the line of action of 𝐹⃗ and 𝑟⊥ is the moment arm of
𝐹⃗ .Torque means “to twist” and has the unit of N ∗ m. Do not confuse the units of torque with
the units of energy as Joule, J is defined as 𝑁 ∗ 𝑚. Torque is defined as positive if rotating
counter-clockwise and negative if clockwise. Torque obeys the superposition principle, therefore
when several torques act on a body, the net torque or resultant torque is the sum of the
individual torques.

𝐹⃗

𝐹⃗𝑡
𝜑

𝐹⃗𝑟

𝑟⃗
Line of Action
of 𝐹⃗

pg. 1

Moment arm of
O, Pivot 𝐹⃗
 The gravitational force on an extended body is the vector sum of the gravitational forces acting
on the individual elements of the body. The gravitational force 𝐹⃗𝑔 on a body effectively acts at a
single point, called the center of gravity (COG) of the body. If 𝑔⃗ is the same for all elements of a
body, then the body’s center of gravity (COG) is coincident with body’s center of mass (COM).
𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
We introduce λ as the linear density, where λ = .
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠

x L-x
COG

M x2 x1 x3 m

Part II

𝜏𝐿 = 𝜏𝑅

𝑟1 𝐹1 = 𝑟2 𝐹2

𝑀 ∗ 𝑥2 ∗ 𝑔 = 𝑀𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑘 ∗ 𝑥1 ∗ 𝑔

𝑀 ∗ 𝑥2
𝑀𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑘 =
𝑥1

Second method:

𝜏𝐿 = 𝜏𝑅

𝑟1 𝐹1 = 𝑟2 𝐹2

𝑥 (𝐿 − 𝑥)
𝑥 ∗ (𝜆 ∗ ) ∗ 𝑔 + 𝑀 ∗ 𝑥2 ∗ 𝑔 = (𝐿 − 𝑥) (𝜆 ∗ )∗𝑔
2 2

2 ∗ 𝑀 ∗ 𝑥2
𝑀𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑘 =
𝐿−2∗𝑥

Part III

𝜏𝐿 = 𝜏𝑅

𝑀𝑥2 𝑔 = 𝑀𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑘 𝑥1 𝑔 + 𝑚(𝑥3 + 𝑥1 )𝑔

𝑚 = (𝑀𝑥2 − 𝑀𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑘 𝑥1 )/(𝑥3 + 𝑥1 )

Apparatus: Meter stick, stand, weight pans, sets of masses, and an unknown weight

pg. 2
Procedure:
Part I
1. Determine the center of gravity by balancing the meter stick on a sharp edge. Repeat several
times. Use the value that is the average of the measured values.
2. Weigh the weight holders and label them. Use the average of several readings.
Center of Gravity of the Meter Stick
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Average Position

Part II
1. Balance the stick on a sharp edge when a known mass of 50 g is hung from the stick. Do not use
the center of gravity of the stick as the balance point or fulcrum and make sure that the fulcrum
is always to the left of the COG, otherwise the equation does not hold. Determine the distance
from the center of gravity of the stick to the new fulcrum. Determine the distance from the
known mass to the new fulcrum. From the condition of equilibrium for torques, solve for the
mass of the meter stick. Repeat at least three times with the 50 g mass hung from different
places on the stick. Determine the average and compare it to the value determined by weighing
the stick.

Positions Distance to Fulcrum

Fulcrum 50 g COG(x1) 50 g (x2) Mass of Meter Stick
1
2
3
4
5

Average mass of meter stick:

Part III

1. Hang a 75 g mass from one hanger and an unknown mass from the second hanger. Balance
the meter stick at a position other that the center of gravity and make sure that the fulcrum is
always to the left of the COG, otherwise the equation does not hold. Determine the distances
from the weight hangers to the fulcrum. Determine the unknown weight using the conditions
of equilibrium.

Positions Distance to Fulcrum

Fulcrum 75 g Unknown COG (x1) 75 g (x2) Unknown(x1+-x3) Mass of Unknown Weight
1
2
3
4
5

Average mass of Unknown Weight:

pg. 3
Questions:

1. Why was the supporting force exerted on the meter stick by the sharp edge not considered in
your calculations?
2. A meter stick is pivoted at its 50 cm mark but does not balance because of non-uniformities in
its material that cause its center of gravity to be displaced from its geometrical center.
However, when weights of 150 g and 300 g are placed at the 10 cm and 75 cm marks,
respectively, balance is obtained. The weights are then interchanged and balance is again
obtained by shifting the pivot point to the 43 cm mark. Find the mass of the meter stick and
the location of its center of gravity.

pg. 4