Mechanics tutorial_1

1. A surveying instrument for measuring distance and angle is located at C, point A is at an

elevation of 9.2 above the horizontal plane (x-y plane). The instrument has to rotate about
the vertical axis through 41 from the x direction in order to align with A. The distance
from C to A is 5005m. Corresponding values for point B are 1.3, 73.4 and 7037m.
Determine
(a) the locations of points A and B in Cartesian co-ordinates relative to C,
(b) the distance from A to B,
(c) the distance from A to B projected onto the horizontal plane.
ans: (a) (3729, 3241, 800.2)m,(2010, 6742, 159.7)m
(b) 3952m
(c) 3900m

[The question aims to explore the Cartesian co-ordinates and to calculate the exact length between
given co-ordinates. Both x- and y- axis is on the horizontal plane.]

2. Point C and D are located at (1,2,4)m and (2,-1,1)m respectively. Determine the length of
CD and the angle COD, where O is the original of the co-ordinates.
ans: 4.36m, 69.12

[Similar to question 1 and cosine rule also steps in.]

3. A vector is given by (2i+3j+1k)m. What is the component of this vector (a) in the y-direction
and (b) in the direction parallel to the line from A to B, where A is at point (1,1,0)m and B
is at (3,4,5)m?
ans: 3m, 2.92m

[Here, the student needs to understand how to find the projection of one line on a given plane.
Study the relationship between vector dot product and line projection if you have difficulty.]

4. What are the angles between the line joining the origin O and a point at (2, -5, 6)m and the
positive x-, y- and z- axes?
ans: 75.6, 128.3, 41.9

[Again, use the vector dot product.]

5. A point on a mechanism has a speed of 5m/s and a tangential acceleration of magnitude

2m/s2. If the magnitude of the total acceleration is 3.0m/s2, what is the radius of curvature
of the path traced by the point at this instant?
ans: 11.18m

[Simple path co-ordinate question. It may also be useful to derive your own path co-ordinate
velocity and acceleration equations from scratch at the point]

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6. The centre C of the wheel of radius 0.5m has a constant velocity of 2.5m/s to the right. The
angular velocity of the wheel is constant at 6rad/s clockwise. Point P is at the bottom of the
wheel and is in contact with the ground.

Q
R
6 rad/s
30

2.5 m/s
C

Determine (a) velocity of P and decide whether or not the wheel is slipping, (b) the velocity
and acceleration of point Q and (c) the velocities and acceleration of point R.
ans: (a) -0.5i m/s, yes
(b) 5.5i m/s, -18j m/s2
(c) (5.1i-1.5j)m/s, -(9i+15.6j)m/s2

[This is polar co-ordinate stuff. Furthermore, it is time to understand what means by no slipping
occurs between a rotating wheel and the ground. Some point on the wheel is motionless at all
time! Check this out.]

7. A vehicle has a velocity of 4m/s and is decelerating at 2m/s2. Its telescopic arm AB has a
length of 1.5m and is increasing at a constant rate of 2m/s. The arm also has a anti-clockwise
angular velocity of 3 rad/s and a clockwise angular acceleration of 0.5rad/s2.

2 B
0.5 rad/s

20 3 rad/s

A
4 m/s

2 m/s2

Determine for B (a) the velocity and speed, (b) the acceleration and its magnitude. Use unit
vector i and j in analysis.

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ans: (4.34i+4.91j)m/s, 6.55m/s

(-18.54i+5.96j)m/s2, 19.47m/s2

[A very standard question on relative motion. It uses relative motion concept to find the true
velocity and acceleration of a given point. The trick is the reference point is also in motion. The
first step is to consider motion of the point under analysis relative to a static reference. After
this, we can add the velocity of the reference to obtain the total motion. Use polar co-ordinate to
tackle this problem even the final answers are in Cartesian. On yes, conversion between
Cartesian and polar co-ordinate systems is needed.]

8. A racing bike at constant speed of 144km/h along a circular track of radius 200m B is being
filmed from a camera mounted on a car which is travelling along a straight road at a constant
speed of 72km/h. Find the angular velocity and acceleration of the camera such that the
bike remains centrally positioned in the view-finder.
O

30
200m

B
bike
er
r
O
30m

eo car

ans: -0.346rad/s, 0.106rad/s2

[This is a fun question, well it is also quit tough. You have to start the analysis by considering
yourself is at A and looking at B, the bike. Therefore, the motion under analysis is relative to you,
i.e. A is the reference. Polar co-ordinate, relative motion and conversion between co-ordinate
systems are required to solve this problem.]

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9. For a simple two-arms mechanism, determine the velocity of C relative to B and velocity of
C. AB=BC=1m.

3 rad/s
30

4 rad/s

45
A

ans: (2.0i+3.45j)m/s, (-0.12i+5.58j)m/s

[If you can do 7 and 8, question 9 is a piece of cake. Actually do 9, otherwise this is an anti-
climax.]

10. A telescopic arm AB pivots about A in a vertical plane and is extending at a constant rate of
1m/s, the angular velocity of the arm remaining constant at 5 rad/s anti-clockwise. When
the arm is at 30 to the horizontal, the length of arm is 0.5m. Determine velocity and
acceleration of B.
ans: (-0.384i+2.66i)m/s, (-15.83i+2.41j)m/s2.

[If you can understand what the question is saying physically, it shouldn’t be any problem.]

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Mechanics tutorial_1

11. A rocket is fired vertically from a launching pad at B. Its flight is tracked by a radar from
point A. Determine the velocity of the rocket in term b,  and  . When the rocket is at P
the angle of elevation is  =47.0, and 0.5s later it is  =48.0. Knowing that b=4km,
determine approximately the speed of the rocket during the 0.5s interval.

P v

A
B
b

ans: v  b sec 2  , 306 m/s upwards

[You can approach this problem in two ways. One, consider the expression for the height of the
missile above the group. Differentiate this to get the velocity. Two, you can also use polar co-
ordinate to solve the problem. The difficult part is really b, for this we have to develop the
concept of average speed, which is very different from velocity in the sense that it is
differentiable.]