Mechanics tutorial_5

1. For a cylinder of radius a, mass M, and length L, determine (a) the moment of inertia about
the axis of the cylinder and (b) moment of inertia about an end diameter.
ans: (a) Ma2/2
(b) M(a2/4 + L2/3)

2. The diagram shows a drum of cylinder radius r and flank radius R. If the cable is horizontal
and the friction between the ground and the drum is sufficient to prevent slip, what is the
acceleration of the drum given tension in cable is T. Discuss the direction of motion when
the drum starts from rest. Mass of drum is M, moment of inertia about drum axis is IG.

R
r cable

ans: T(1-r/R) / (M + IG/R2)

3. The diagram shows two pulleys, P1 and P2, connected by a belt. The effective radius of P2 is
r and its axial moment inertia is I. The system is initially at rest and the tension in the belt is
To. The motor M which drives the pulley P1 is then started and it may be assumed that the
average tension TAB and TCD in sections AB and CD of the belt remains equal to To. Denoting
the anti-clockwise angular acceleration of pulley P2 by α and the clockwise resisting couple
on the same axle by Q, find expressions for TAB and TCD, neglecting mass of the belt.
B

A
M P
P1 2

ans: To+(Iα+Q)/2r, To+(Iα+Q)/2r

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4. The diagram shows a hoist consists of a winding drum D driven by an electric motor M. A
pinion of NM teeth on the motor shaft meshed with a gear wheel of ND teeth attached to the
drum. The effective radius of the drum is R. The total axial moment of inertia on the drum
shaft is ID and on the motor shaft is IM. The rope wrapped around the drum carries a load of
mass m at its lower end which is being raised with an acceleration a. Neglect bearing friction
and the mass and stretch of the rope; determine the couple being applied to the rotor of the
motor.
Pinion

Drum D
M

N  N 
2
 a 
ans: CM = M  I D + I M  D  + mR 2  + Rmg 
ND   NM   R 
 

5. An experimental vehicle powered by a jet engine whose thrust can be represented by the
equivalent concentrated force P acting on the vehicle as shown. The vehicle is suspended
from the light wheels at A and B, which run on the straight horizontal track. Friction at the
wheel is negligible. The total mass of the vehicle is 4000kg and mass centre is at G. (a) If
wind resistance can be neglected, determine the maximum permissible P consistent with the
wheel B remaining in contact with the track. What would be the acceleration a of the vehicle
for this value of P. (b) If wind resistance were taken into account, would the maximum
permissible value of P consistent with the wheel at B remaining in contact with the track
necessarily always exceed that obtained in (a)? Give reason for your answer. (Hint: consider
the wind resistance as a single horizontal force).
A B
2.0 m
2.8 m

2.0 m 3.0 m

ans: (a) 98.1kN, 24.53m/s2

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6. A motorcycle and rider are travelling over a horizontal road, the combined centre of mass
being 0.7m above the road surface and 0.8m in front of the axle of the rear wheel. The
wheelbase of the motorcycle is 1.4m. If the coefficient of friction between the tyres and the
road is 0.8, fine the maximum possible acceleration, neglecting air resistance and unlimited
power from engine. Neglect the mass of the wheels.
ans: 5.61m/s2

7. The tailgate of a vehicle has dimensions 2m×1m and may be considered as a uniform
rectangular plate. Initially the vehicle is at rest with the tailgate hanging vertically from the
hinge, and then the vehicle accelerates forwards at 0.8m/s2. Show that when the tailgate has
swung through an angle of 8.5° the vehicle has moved 0.175 metres. (Simple programming
or Simpson's rule for integration can be used.)
2
0.8m/s
0.8m/s

1m

2m

tailgate

8. The diagram shows part of a mechanical linkage, which has links AB and BC pinned together
at B. Link AB rotates at a constant anti-clockwise angular velocity of 25rad/s and the
instantaneous angular velocity of BC is 60rad/s anti-clockwise. The links are each made of
uniform rod of mass 2kg/m. Determine the angular acceleration of BC and the bending
moment in the rod AB at A.
AB = 1.0 m
C BC = 0.5 m

60
25 rad/s
60 rad/s

B
ans: 963.0 rad/s2, -1383Nm

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Mechanics tutorial_5

9. The diagram shows an apparatus for performing an impact test on the specimen S. The rod
AB of mass m swings from two light parallel wires of length l, the inclination of the wires to
the vertical being θ. If the rod is released from rest at θ=30° and strikes the specimen just
after θ=0°, find for θ=0° (a) the angular velocity and acceleration of the wires, and (b) the
tension in each wire.
O1 O2

l l

A G B S

b c

ans: (a) 0.518 (g/l)0.5, zero.

10. The diagram shows a cylinder C of a petrol engine. The crankshaft AB is rotating anti-
clockwise at a constant speed of 3000rev/min about A, which is its mass centre. The
connecting rod BD has a mass of 2.0kg and its mass centre is at G. The moment of inertia of
the connecting rod about G is 0.005kgm2. The mass of the piston E is 0.5kg and the diameter
of the cylinder C in which the piston slides is 90mm. If the pressure on top of the piston is
2.1MPa which angle DAB=30°, determine for this angle (a) the force in pin D and (b) the
turning moment being applied to the crankshaft. Neglect any friction. Given AB=40mm,
BG=45mm, and BD=145mm.
P

C E

3000 rpm
ans: (a) 11.4kN,
(b) 209Nm anti-clockwise

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11. A belt of small mass passes between cylinders A and B and is pulled to the right with a force
P. Cylinders A and B have masses respectively, of 2 and 8kg. The shaft of cylinder A is free
to slide in a vertical slot and the coefficients of friction between the belt and each of the
cylinder are µs=0.5 and µk=0.4. For P=18N, determine (a) whether slipping occurs between
the belt and either of the cylinders, (b) the angular acceleration of each cylinder.

100mm
A

200mm
2 2
ans: 78.48rad/s , 9.81rad/s (Beer & Johnston Q.16.51)