Moments are a measure of the turning effect of a force around a specified turning point or pivot. A moment is a force times a distance. ... clockwise moments are positive. anti-clockwise moments are negative.

What does a negative moment mean?

A bending moment that produces compression on the bottom side of a beam and tension on the top side.

Can a couple have a negative moment?

Your book calls that direction positive...by convention, the 'into' direction is often called the negative direction. It is largely a matter of choice. In the same way, a clockwise moment per your book is called positive, whereas convention usually calls a clockwise moment as negative.