Question

A force of 10 N is applied to spin a potter's wheel. If the diameter of the wheel is 60 cm, calculate the moment of force.

Answer 1

Step 1: Given data:

Force applied to the wheel, $F=10N$

Diameter of the wheel $=60cm$, therefore the radius of wheel,$r=\frac{60}{2}=30cm$

Step 2: calculation of torque( moment of force).

We know that moment of force, (torque) is given by

$$\begin{gathered} \tau =r\times F=30cm\times 10N \\ =0.3m\times 10N \\ =3Nm \end{gathered}$$

Hence the moment of force acting on the potters wheel is $3Nm$.