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GCSE Physics · key term
The shortest distance from a pivot to a force's line of action, measured at right angles to that line.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Paper 2
Revise: Introduction to Moments and Balanced SystemsLikewise, applying the same force at a greater perpendicular distance produces a larger moment. This is why pushing a door near its handle is more effective than pushing close to its hinges.
Specification 9.7P · Paper 2
The shortest distance from the pivot to the force’s line of action, measured at right angles to it.
Use the perpendicular distance from the pivot to the force's line of action—not automatically the length along the object.
A force whose line of action passes through the pivot has zero perpendicular distance and therefore produces no moment about that pivot.
Mark the pivot, extend the force’s line of action if necessary, then use the perpendicular distance from the pivot to that line.
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For the same distance, doubling the force doubles the moment; for the same force, doubling the perpendicular distance does the same.
Specification P2.3l · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher)
The shortest distance from a pivot to the line along which a force acts, measured at right angles to that line.
Revise: Moment of a forceIf the force acts at an angle, that length along the ruler is not necessarily the perpendicular distance.
Paper 1, Paper 2
The shortest distance from a pivot to the line along which a force acts, measured at right angles to that line.
Revise: Circular Motion, Moments, Levers and GearsFind the shortest perpendicular distance to that line, convert it to metres, and then multiply it by the force.