The weight acts at the mass centre of the mass, so you would draw the force vector straight down from there. This is important for determining the torque it has about the axle, but for the purpose of figuring out the linear force at the axle the line of action does not matter, only the direction.Pinon1977 said:
Yes. The path the rigid member takes from axle to point of application of force is irrelevant. You could make the member an entire disc centred on the axle.Pinon1977 said:
The moment arm, also known as the lever arm, is the perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation to the line of action of the force. It is an important component in determining the amount of torque or rotational force exerted by a force.
The torque vector is determined by multiplying the magnitude of the force by the length of the moment arm. The direction of the torque vector is perpendicular to both the force vector and the moment arm, following the right-hand rule.
The moment arm is important because it determines the effectiveness of a force in creating a rotational movement. A longer moment arm will result in a greater torque, while a shorter moment arm will result in a smaller torque.
The angle of the force affects the moment arm by changing the perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation to the line of action of the force. A force applied at a right angle to the axis of rotation will have the maximum moment arm and therefore the maximum torque. A force applied at an angle will have a smaller moment arm and therefore a smaller torque.
Moment arm and torque are important concepts in fields such as engineering, physics, and biomechanics. They are used in designing machines and structures, calculating the forces on a lever or pulley system, and understanding the mechanics of human movement. For example, moment arm and torque are crucial in determining the effectiveness of muscles in creating movement and maintaining balance in the human body.
