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What does moments mean in science?

Updated: 4/28/2022
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15y ago

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A "moment" is a measure of how far a physical variable acts from some axis, R. For example; a water wheel is placed in a river so the force of the moving water hits the blades on the rim of the wheel and rotates it about its axis. The water force F acts near the rim . The moment of force is the force F multiplied by its distance from the axis R; Moment of force = FR. This is given the name "torque". When something of mass M moves in a circle with velocity v its momentum is P = Mv and its moment of momentum is PR = MvR. This is given the name "angular momentum". Now if you multiply the mass times R you would logically call MR the moment of mass. But MR doesn't have any particular use in science so its seldom ever calculated. On the other hand the moment of the moment (called the second moment) of mass; MRR or MR^2 is a useful calculation and it is called "moment of inertia".

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Q: What does moments mean in science?
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