Department of Physical Science
Faculty of Applied Science
University of Vavuniya
Second Semester –2022/2023
AMA2213 - Mechanics
Tutorial - 01
1. An object of mass m is dropped from a height H above the ground. Prove that if air
resistance is negligible, then it will reach the ground
(a) in a time √2𝐻⁄𝑔
(b) with speed √2𝑔𝐻
2. Work Problem 1 if the object is thrown vertically downward with an initial velocity of
magnitude 𝑣0.
3. A ball which is thrown vertically upward reaches a particular height 𝐻 after a
time 𝑇1 on the way up and a time 𝑇2 on the way down. Prove that the initial velocity
with which the ball was thrown has magnitude 1 𝑔( 𝑇 + 𝑇 ) and the height 𝐻 =
2 1 2
1𝑔 𝑇 𝑇
2 1 2
4. At time 𝑡 = 0 a parachutist having weight of magnitude 𝑚𝑔 is located at 𝑧 = 0 and
is traveling vertically downward with speed 𝑣0. If the force or air resistance acting on
the parachute is proportional to the instantaneous speed, find the
(a) Speed
(b) distance traveled
(c) Acceleration at any time 𝑡 > 0.
5. An object slides on a surface of ice along the horizontal straight line OA. At a certain
point in its path the speed is 𝑣0 and the object then2 comes to rest after traveling a
distance 𝑥0 . Prove that the coefficient of friction is 𝑣 .
2𝑔𝑥0
1
6. A projectile is launched with a muzzle velocity of 2900 𝑘𝑚/ℎ at an angle of 60° with
a horizontal and lands on the same plane. Find
(a) The maximum height reached
(b) The time to reach the maximum height
(c) The total time of flight
(d) The range
(e) The speed after 1 minute of flight
(f) The speed at a height of 10,000m.
7. Two objects are dropped from the top of a cliff of height H. The second is dropped
when the first has traveled a distance D. Prove that at the instant when the first object
has reached the bottom, the second object is at a distance above it given by
2√𝐷𝐻 − 𝐷.
8. An inclined plane makes an angle 𝛼 with the horizontal. A projectile is launched from
the bottom A of the incline with speed 𝑣0 in a direction making an angle 𝛽 with the
horizontal.
(a) Prove that the range R up the incline is given by
2𝑣2 sin(𝛽 − 𝛼) cos 𝛽
𝑅= 0
𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝛼
(b) Prove that the maximum range up the incline is given by
𝑣02
𝑅𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
𝑔(1 + sin 𝛼)
And is achieved when 𝛽 = 𝜋⁄4 + 𝛼⁄2
9. A projectile is launched at an angle 𝛼 from a cliff of height H above sea level. If it falls
into the sea at a distance D from the base of the cliff,
𝐷2𝑡𝑎𝑛2𝛼
Prove that its maximum height above sea level is 𝐻 +
4(𝐻+𝐷 tan 𝛼)
2
10. A mass 𝑚 moves along a straight line under the influence of a constant force F.
Assuming that there is a resisting force numerically equal to 𝑘𝑣2 where 𝑣 is the
instantaneous speed and k is a constant. Prove that the distance traveled in going from
𝑚 𝐹−𝑘𝑣2
speed 𝑣1 to 𝑣2 is 2𝑘 ln( 1 ).
𝐹−𝑘𝑣22
11. A projectile is launched downward from the top of an inclined plane of angle 𝛼 in a
direction making an angle 𝛾 with the incline. Assuming that the projectile hits the
incline, prove that
2𝑣02 sin 𝛾 cos(𝛾−𝛼)
(a) The range is given by 𝑅 = .
𝑔𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝛼
𝑣2
(b) The maximum range down the incline is𝑅 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 0 .
𝑔(1−sin 𝛼)
12. AB is a smooth table and masses 𝑚1 and 𝑚2 are connected by a string over the smooth
peg at B. Find
(a) The acceleration of mass 𝑚2.
(b) The tension in the string.
13. Work Problem 11 if the table AB has coefficient of friction 𝜇.
14. Masses 𝑚1 and 𝑚2 are located on smooth inclined planes of angles 𝛼1 and 𝛼2
respectively and are connected by an inextensible string of negligible mass which
passes over a smooth peg at A. Find the accelerations of the masses.
15. A uniform chain of total length 𝛼 has a portion 0 < 𝑏 < 𝑎 hanging over the edge of a
smooth table AB.
Prove that the time taken for the chain to slide off the table if it starts from rest
is √𝑎⁄𝑔 ln(𝑎 + √𝑎2 − 𝑏2)/𝑏.
3
16. A weight 𝑊1hangs on one side of a smooth fixed pulley of negligible mass. A man of
weight 𝑊2 pulls himself up so that his acceleration relative to the fixed pulley is 𝛼.
Prove that the weight 𝑊1 moves upward with acceleration given by
[𝑔(𝑊2 − 𝑊1) − 𝑊2𝛼]/𝑊1.