MEL1010 Engineering Mechanics
Tutorial 7: Relative Motion, System of Particle and Rigid body Kinematics-
Absolute motion
Thursday, 17th October
Answer all the following questions. Mention valid assumptions wherever applicable
1-2: Relative motion, 3-4: System of Particles, 5-6: Rotation, 7-9: Absolute Motion
1. The launch catapult of the aircraft carrier
gives the 7-Mg jet airplane a constant
acceleration and launches the airplane in a
distance of 100 m measured along the
angled takeoff ramp. The carrier is moving
at a steady speed 𝑣𝑐 = 16 m/s. If an absolute
aircraft speed of 90 m/s is desired for
takeoff, determine the net force 𝐹 supplied
by the catapult and the aircraft engines.
Ans. F= 194.0 kN
2. The ball 𝐴 of mass 10 𝑘𝑔 is attached to the
light rod of length 𝑙 = 0.8 𝑚. The mass of
carriage alone is 250 𝑘𝑔, and it moves with
an acceleration 𝑎0 as shown. If 𝜃̇ = 3 rad/s
when 𝜃 = 90°, find the kinetic energy 𝑇 of
the system if the carriage has a velocity of
0.8 𝑚/𝑠 (𝑎) in the direction of 𝑎0 and (𝑏)
in the direction opposite to 𝑎0 Treat the ball
as a particle.
Ans. T= 112 J
3. The three small spheres are welded to the
light rigid frame which is rotating in a
horizontal plane about a vertical axis
through 𝑂 with an angular velocity 𝜃̇ = 20
rad/s. If a couple 𝑀0 = 30 N ∙ m is applied
to the frame for 5 seconds, compute the
new angular velocity 𝜃̇ ′ .
Ans. 𝜃̇ ′ = 80.7 rad/s
4. The cars of a roller-coaster ride have a
speed of 30 km/h as they pass over the top
of the circular track. Neglect any friction
and calculate their speed 𝑣 when they reach
the horizontal bottom position. At the top
position, the radius of the circular path of
their mass centers is 18 m, and all six cars
have the same mass.
Ans. 𝑣 = 72.7 km/h
5. The circular disk rotates with a constant
angular velocity 𝜔 = 40 rad/sec about its
axis, which is inclined in the 𝑦-𝑧 plane at
3
the angle 𝜃 = tan−1 . Determine the vector
4
expressions for the velocity and
acceleration of point 𝑃, whose position
vector at the instant shown is 𝒓 = 15𝒊 + 16𝒋
− 12𝒌 in. (Check the magnitude of your
results from the scalar values 𝑣 = 𝑟𝜔 and 𝑎
= 𝑟ω2 )
𝒗 = 40(−20 𝒊 + 12𝒋 − 9𝒌) in/s
𝒂 = 1600(−15 𝒊 − 16𝒋 + 12𝒌) in/s 2
6. The two V-belt pulleys from an integral
unit and rotate about the fixed axis at 𝑂. At
a certain instant, point 𝐴 on the belt of the
smaller pulley has a velocity 𝑣𝑎 = 15 m/s,
and point 𝐵 on the belt of larger pulley has
an acceleration 𝑎𝐵 = 45 m/s 2 as shown.
For this instant determine the magnitude of
the acceleration 𝑎𝑐 of point 𝐶 and sketch
the vector in your solution.
Ans. 𝑎𝑐 = 149.9 m/s 2
7. The wheel of radius 𝑟 rolls without
slipping, and its centre 𝑂 has a constant
velocity 𝑣0 to the right. Determine
expressions for the magnitudes of the
velocity 𝒗 and acceleration 𝒂 of point 𝐴 on
the rim by differentiating its 𝑥- and 𝑦-
coordinates. Represent your results
graphically as vectors on your sketch and
show that 𝒗 is the vector sum of two
vectors, each of which has a magnitude 𝑣0
𝑣02
Ans. 𝑣 = 𝑣0 2√(1 + sin θ) , 𝑎 = towards O
𝑟
8. The telescoping link is hinged at 𝑂, and its
end 𝐴 is given a constant upward velocity
of 200 mm/s by the piston rod of the fixed
hydraulic cylinder 𝐵. Calculate the angular
velocity 𝜃̇ and the angular acceleration
𝜃̈ of link O𝐴 for the instant when 𝑦 = 600
mm.
Ans. 𝜃̇ = 0.1639 rad/s
𝜃̈ = −0.0645 rad/s 2
9. Determine the acceleration of the shaft 𝐵
for 𝜃 = 60°.If the crank 𝑂𝐴 has an angular
acceleration 𝜃̈ = 8 rad/s 2 and an angular
velocity 𝜃̇ = 4 rad/s at this position. The
spring maintains contact between the roller
and the surface of the plunger.
Ans. 𝑎𝐵 = 789 mm/s 2