Moments

Comprehension and additional task exercises pages 150 and 151 from Next Page Science KS3 Complete. Accompanying PowerPoint and word searches available for free from the website.
This exercise covers:
• The definition of a moment as the turning effect of a force
• The simplified equation of how to calculate the moment of a force
• Examples of turning forces to include: opening a door, a wheel brace, a pair of scissors, a crow bar and pedalling a bike as an example of how the moment can change size i.e. max when pedal’s horizontal and zero when vertical
• The principle of moments: anticlockwise = clockwise with pictorial aids
• Weighing scales, balancing a car and a circus seesaw (bouncer/tumbler) as examples
• An exercise calculating the turning force of different length wheel braces with different forces
• An exercise calculating clockwise and anticlockwise moments to determine if the seesaw is balanced/unbalanced
• An exercise calculating the weight needed to balance uncentred rulers with a starter example
• Amazing WHAT? facts