TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
PULCHOWK CAMPUS
ENGINEERING MECHANICS
Tutorial Questions
Chapter-2 : Kinetics of Particles: Force, Mass and Acceleration
Bachelors of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
II/I
Prepared By
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Pulchowk Campus, Pulchowk
2021
Tutorial Two: Kinetics of Particles – Force, Mass and Acceleration
1. The path of particle P is the ellipse defined by the relations r = 2 / (2 - cos πt) and θ = πt, where r is
expressed in meters, t is in seconds, and u is in radians. Determine the velocity and the acceleration
of the particle when (a) t = 0, (b) t = 0.5 s.
2. Determine the maximum theoretical speed that an automobile starting from rest can reach after
traveling 400 m. Assume that the coefficient of static friction is 0.80 between the tires and the
pavement and that (a) the automobile has front-wheel drive and the front wheels support 62 percent
of the automobile’s weight, (b) the automobile has rear-wheel drive and the rear wheels support 43
percent of the automobile’s weight.
3. Show that the radius r of the orbit of a moon of a given planet can be determined from the radius R
of the planet, the acceleration of gravity at the surface of the planet, and the time t required by the
moon to complete one full revolution about the planet. Determine the acceleration of gravity at the
surface of the planet Jupiter knowing that R = 71 492 km and that t = 3.551 days and r = 670.9 X
103 km for its moon Europa.
4. The two blocks shown are originally at rest. Neglecting the masses of the pulleys and the effect of
friction in the pulleys and between block A and the horizontal surface, determine (a) the acceleration
of each block, (b) the tension in the cable.
5. The coefficients of friction between blocks A and C and the horizontal surfaces are 𝜇𝑠 = 0.24 and 𝜇𝑘
=0.20 (see above figure). Knowing that mA=5 kg, mB=10 kg, and mC=10 kg, determine (a) the tension
in the cord, (b) the acceleration of each block.: 2.49m/s2 towards right, B: 0.831m/s2 downwards.
6. A 20-kg package is at rest on an incline when a force P is applied to it. Determine the magnitude of
P if 10 s is required for the package to travel 5 m up the incline. The static and kinetic coefficients
of friction between the package and the incline are both equal to 0.3.
7. The acceleration of a package(see above figure ) sliding at point A is 3 m/s2. Assuming that the
coefficient of kinetic friction is the same for each section, determine the acceleration of the package
at point B.
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Tutorial Two: Kinetics of Particles – Force, Mass and Acceleration
8. At a given instant in an airplane race, airplane A is flying horizontally in a straight line (shown
below), and its speed is being increased at the rate of 8 m/s2. Airplane B is flying at the same altitude
as airplane A and, as it rounds a pylon, is following a circular path of 300-m radius. Knowing that at
the given instant the speed of B is being decreased at the rate of 3 m/s2, determine, for the positions
shown, (a) the velocity of B relative to A, (b) the acceleration of B relative to A.
9. The mechanism (shown above) is known as a Whitworth quick-return mechanism. The input rod AP
rotates at a constant rate 𝜙̇, and the pin P is free to slide in the slot of the output rod BD. Plot 𝜃
versus 𝜙 and 𝜃̇, versus 𝜙 for one revolution of rod AP. Assume 𝜙̇ = 1 rad/s, l = 4 in., and (a) b = 2.5
in., (b) b = 3 in., (c) b =3.5 in. (Required knowledge of spreadsheet in computer)
10. Motors A and B draw in the cable with the accelerations shown. Determine the acceleration of the
300-lb crate C and the tension developed in the cable. Neglect the mass of all the pulleys. (ans.
2.5ft/s2 upwards, 162 lb)
11. Knowing that at the instant shown (above figure) assembly A has a velocity of 9 in./s and an
acceleration of 15 in./s2 both directed downwards, determine (a) the velocity of block B, (b) the
acceleration of block B.
12. A space vehicle is in a circular orbit of 2200-km radius around the moon.
To transfer it to a smaller circular orbit of 2080-km radius, the vehicle is
first placed on an elliptic path AB by reducing its speed by 26.3 m/s as it
passes through A. Knowing that the mass of the moon is 73.49 X1021 kg,
determine (a) the speed of the vehicle as it approaches B on the elliptic
path, (b) the amount by which its speed should be reduced as it
approaches B to insert it into the smaller circular orbit.
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Tutorial Two: Kinetics of Particles – Force, Mass and Acceleration
13. At the instant shown, the length of the boom AB is being decreased at the constant rate of 0.2 m/s, and the
boom is being lowered at the constant rate of 0.08 rad/s. Determine (a) the velocity of point B, (b) the
acceleration of point B.
14. The two blocks are released from rest when r = 0.8 m and θ = 30° (see the right figure). Neglecting the mass
of the pulley and the effect of friction in the pulley and between block A and the horizontal surface, determine
(a) the initial tension in the cable, (b) the initial acceleration of block A, (c) the initial acceleration of block B.
15. A polisher is started so that the fleece along the circumference undergoes a constant tangential acceleration of
4 m/s2. Three seconds after it is started, small tufts of fleece from along the circumference of the 225-mm-
diameter polishing pad are observed to fly free of the pad. At this instant, determine (a) the speed v of a tuft
as it leaves the pad, (b) the magnitude of the force required to free a tuft if the average mass of a tuft is 1.6 mg.
16. The rod OA in the figure (see above and right) rotates in the horizontal plane such that θ = t3 rad. At the same
time, the collar B is sliding outward along OA so that r = 100t2 mm. If in both cases t is in seconds, determine
the velocity and acceleration of the collar when t = 1s.
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