APL100 Tutorial 2 (part A)
APL100 Tutorial 2
Part A
1. A bead, C, of mass, m, moves over a parabolic rod ED (Fig. 1) which is welded to a vertical rod AB. Rod
AB rotates about the vertical axis at the rates shown while C moves w.r.t. to the parabolic rod, with a
speed, v, that is changing at an unknown rate a. The radius of curvature of the parabola at the location of
C is ρ and the coefficient of friction between the rod and the bead is µ. Determine the normal reaction, N,
from the rod onto the bead and the rate of change of speed, a.
2. A slotted arm OA rotates about the horizontal axis at O as shown (Fig. 2). A pin of mass 0.1 kg can slide
in the slot and is kept in contact with the fixed disc due to the spring force. The path of the center P of the
pin is along the dotted circle of diameter 0.6 m.
(a) Show that the path of P is: r = 0.6 cos θ.
(b) Find the acceleration of the point P in the given position.
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(c) Find the normal components of the reactions from the plate and the slot on the pin in the given position.
The free length of the spring is 1 m and k = 200 N/m. The coefficient of kinetic friction for the plate and
the slot is 0.2. Assume that the pin slips on the plate and the slot in the directions of velocity of P relative
to them. OA = 0.8 m.
3. The automatic controller of a high-speed train slows it according to the v − s curve shown in Fig. 3. The
train is moving on a circular track of radius 36 km. Its initial speed v0 = 180 km/h when the brakes are
applied. Calculate
(a) The acceleration at s = 2 km.
(b) The position when the rate of change of speed with respect to time is maximum.
(c) The position when the magnitude of acceleration is maximum.
4. Two persons 1 and 2, standing on a rotating platform, observe the motion of a projectile P and an ant D
moving relative to the ground along OE at the speed v which is increasing at the rate a (see figure). C is a
point of the platform. In the reference frame of the platform, (a) are ~v P , ~a P observed by them the same? (b)
Find ~v D , ~a D of the ant D observed by them. (c) Find ~v BA , and (d) ~vC ,~aC .
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5. In an amusement park ride, the cockpit containing the passengers rotates relative to the telescopic arm
ACB (see figure). The length of the arm ACB increases as shown and it swings relative to the arm AO.
The arm AO rotates relative to the fixed vertical axis. Point P is at the center of the eye of a passenger
strapped to a seat fixed in the cockpit. Find ~a P .
Part B
1. An army truck is going up an axi-symmetric hill: r = f (z) on a helix of pitch p. Find its velocity and
acceleration at a height z where its speed is v and decreasing at the rate a.
Ans: [{ f 0 p~er /2π + f~eφ + p~ez /2π }φ̇,
{ f 0 pφ̈/2π + ( f 00 p2 /4π 2 − f )φ̇2 }~er + (2 f 0 pφ̇2 /2π + f φ̈)~eφ + pφ̈~ez /2π
with φ̇ = v/d, d = [( f 02 + 1) p2 /4π 2 + f 2 ]1/2 , φ̈ = − a/d − [ f 0 f 00 p2 /2φ2 + 2 f f 0 ] pv2 /4πd4
2. A missile is launched at the position shown and is programmed to follow a pursuit curve so that its
velocity is always directed towards the high altitude spy aircraft (shown in figure) in rectilinear flight.
Find the time taken to hit the aircraft assuming that the aircraft and the missile move with constant speeds
vA, vM.
√
Ans: [{v M a2 + b2 + v A (b cos θ + a sin θ )}/(v2M − v2A )]
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3. (a) Four men A, B, C, D stand at the corners of a square of side s. They start moving with speed v so
that A pursues B, B pursues C, C pursues D and D pursues A. Find the position where they meet,
the path followed, the time taken and the distance moved. (Hint: use r, φ with center of the square
as origin.) (b) Rework part ( a) if 6 men stand at the corners of a regular hexagon of side s and each
pursues the person in front at constant speed v.
√ √
Ans: (a) at center, r = se−φ / 2, s/v, s (b) at center, r = se−φ/ 3 , 2s/v, 2s