HKASL Physics

Examination format and allocation of marks

Paper Format Weighting

Structured-type
1 (1 hour 10 min.) 33%
questions (4)
MC (25) 30%
2 (1 hour 50 min.)
Essays (2 out of 4) 22%
3 (2 years) TAS 15%

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1.1 Statics 靜力學
and
Dynamics 動力學

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 What is statics?
• Statics is the branch of
physics concerned with the
analysis of loads (force,
torque/moment) on physical
systems in equilibrium.
•When in equilibrium, the
forces in the system will
have zero resultant and zero
turning effect which will not
cause any change in the
motion of the object.
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Zero resultant
F1
•If the block is in
q equilibrium, the
F2 resultant force acting
on it is zero.
•Resolve horizontally,
F1 cos q = F2
•Resolve vertically,
F3 F1 sin q = F3

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 Vector approach
F1

q
F2

F1  F2  F3F3 0
•If an equilibrium system consists of n forces,

F1  F2    Fn  0 i.e. F i 0

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Vector Addition
Triangular law Parallelogram law
C B D

A B A C

AB  BC  AC AB  AC  AD

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•Polygon law
B C

A D

F E

AB  BC  CD  DE  EF  AF

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Zero resultant forces
F4
F3
F5

F6 F2
F1

F1  F2    Fn  0 i.e. F i 0

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12.1 Turning effect of a force (SB p.170)

Turning effect of a force ─ rotate about axes

Pivot (or fulcrum) ─ position of axes
axis axis
pivot
pivot

pivot

pivot

axis
axis

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12.1 Turning effect of a force (SB p.170) Moment

Moment ─ the turning effect of a force

Moment arm ─ perpendicular distance between
the force and the pivot
moment arm Moment
door
hinge ＝Force  Moment arm
(pivot)
＝F  d

door Unit of moment: N m

hinge

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12.1 Turning effect of a force (SB p.171) Moment

Moment
Moment of F1 = F1  d1
Moment of F2 = F2  d2
Same turning effect
door
hinge
F1  d1 = F2  d2

As d1 > d2,
F1 < F2

Note: the longer d, the smaller will be the force required.

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12.1 Turning effect of a force (SB p.172) Moment

Which requires a smaller force ? (d2 > d1)

force
force

pivot

case 1 case 2 
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12.1 Turning effect of a force (SB p.172) Moment

Moment ─ clockwise or anticlockwise

clockwise
pivot

pivot
anticlockwise

an anticlockwise moment a clockwise moment

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12.2 Principle of moments (SB p.174)

Principle of moments
Moment of F1
= 10  0.4
= 4 N m (anticlockwise)
pivot Moment of F2
= 5  0.8 = 4 N m (clockwise)
Two moments：
same in magnitude, but in
opposite direction

cannot turn
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12.2 Principle of moments (SB p.175)

Take the mid-point of the ruler as the pivot

Total clockwise moment
= 1.6  10  0.1 + 1  10  0.4
= 5.6 N m

pivot

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12.2 Principle of moments (SB p.175)

Take the mid-point of the ruler as the pivot

Total anticlockwise moment
= 0.4  10  0.2 + 1.2  10  0.4
= 5.6 N m

pivot

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12.2 Principle of moments (SB p.175)

Principle of moments
anticlockwise clockwise
moment moment

When a body is in balance,

Total clockwise moment
＝Total anticlockwise moment
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12.2 Principle of moments (SB p.176)
Class Practice 1：Edmond, Jessie and Tracy are sitting
on a seesaw at the positions shown in the figures. Given that
their masses are 65 kg, 40 kg and 50 kg respectively, and the
mass of the seesaw is negligible. Find the distance of Jessie
from the pivot (d) when the seesaw is balanced.
d 1.7 m
1m

pivot
400 N 500 N 650 N
Apply the principle of moment,
Clockwise moment = Anticlockwise moment
650 x 1.7 = 500 x 1 + 400 x d
Answer
d = 1.51 m
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•Find the reaction from the pivot.

d 1.7 m
1m

pivot
400 N 500 N 650 N

Since the system is in equilibrium, the resultant is zero.

R = 400 + 500 + 650
= 1550 N

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 Take moment about other points
R = 60 N
0.5m 0.2m 0.2m
X Y

20 N 10 N
Pivot O
30 N
•Take moment about X
Clockwise moment Anti-clockwise moment
= 30 x 0.7 + 10 x 0.9 = 60 x 0.5
= 30 Nm = 30 Nm
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 Take moment about other points
R = 60 N
0.5m 0.2m 0.2m 0.1m
X Y

20 N 10 N
Pivot O
30 N
•Take moment about Y
Clockwise moment Anti-clockwise moment
= 60 x 0.5 = 10 x 0.1 + 30 x 0.3 + 20 x 1
= 30 Nm = 1 + 9 + 20 = 30 Nm
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Conclusion
•When an object is in equilibrium, the
sum of clockwise moments about any
point is equal to the sum of
anticlockwise moments about that point.

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•Two blocks are placed on a light metre
ruler as shown. Find the reactions at X
and Y. 2 kg
3 kg

X Y
0.25 m

0.75 m

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•Step 1: Draw all forces acting on the metre ruler
(in equilibrium).

3 kg
RX 2 kg RY

X Y
0.25 m 20 N 30 N

0.75 m

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•Step 2: Apply the principle of moment for objects in
equilibrium. 3 kg
RX 2 kg RY

X Y
0.25 m 20 N 30 N

0.75 m
Take moment about X (any point), Resolve vertically,
20 x 0.25 + 30 x 0.75 = RY x 1 RX + RY = 20 + 30
RY = 27.5 N RX = 50 – 27.5 = 22.5 N

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More on moment of force
Find the moment of F about O.

d sin q F

q
Pivot O
q
d
F
Moment of F about O
= Force x perpendicular distance from O
= F x d sin q = Fd sin q
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More on moment of force
Find the moment of F about O. (Alternative method)

F cos q
Pivot O
q
d
F
F sin q
Moment of F about O
= Force x perpendicular distance from O
= F sin q x d = Fd sin q
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 Example 2 A sign of mass 5 kg is hung from the end B of a
uniform bar AB of mass 2 kg. The bar is hinged to a wall at A
and held horizontal by a wire joining B to a point C which is
on the wall vertically above A. If angle ABC = 30o, find the
tension in the wire and the reaction exerted from the hinge.
C Take moment about A,
(Tsin 30o)(2d) = (20)(d) + (50)(2d)
Ry T T sin 30o
T = 120 N
R Resolve vertically,
q 30o
A Ry + Tsin 30o = 20 + 50
T cos 30o Ry = 10 N
hinge Rx
Resolve horizontally,
20 N
Rx = T cos 30o
50 N
Rx = 103.9 N
d d
R = sqrt(Rx2 + Ry2) = 104.4 N
Tension is 120 N and the reaction
q = tan -1(Ry/Rx) = 5.50o
from the hinge is 104.4 N at an angle
of 5.50o to
28 the horizontal.
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Moment and couple
•Couple ─ consists of 2 equal and opposite parallel
forces whose lines of action do not coincide (重疊).

F F

d d/2 d/2
F F

torque of couple = F x d/2 + F x d/2 = Fd

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Short test after each chapter
•Homework (SQ 2, 5, LQ 1)
•Next day 1
•Short test : Moment
•Next day 1

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 The End

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