Moments
Moments are a measure of the turning effect of a force around a specified turning point or pivot.
![Picture of a hammer removing a nail. The diagram shows the movement of the hammer, force and the distance.](images/page_002_moments_1.jpg)
A moment is a force times a distance. The unit used to measure a moment is newton metres (Nm).
![Picture of a pivot point with a steel bar attached to it. There is a moment arrow pointing upwards and a force arrow equal to 10 N pointing downwards.](images/page_002_moments_2.jpg)
M = F x d
M = 10 N x 5 m
M = 50 Nm
Note that the units are Nm (newton metres) not N/m (newtons per metre).
Need more information about units of force?
![Picture of steel bar at the original position and a dotted line bar showing the position due to the force and resulting action.](images/page_002_moments_4.jpg)
The direction of a moment is opposite to the direction of the force.
![Picture of a clock showing the positive moments as clockwise and the negative moments as anti-clockwise.](images/page_002_moments_3.jpg)
The convention is that:
- clockwise moments are positive
- anti-clockwise moments are negative.