ME3112 Mechanics of Machines

Solution to Problem Set 1

Problem 1
Consider horizontal motion, time taken to travel 12.2 m is
t =
12.2
v
0
Consider vertical motion, distance travelled downwards is
s =
1
2
gt
2
=
1
2
(9.81)

12.2
v
0

2
For the height to remain between 0.788 m and 1.068 m,
0.788 1.5 s 1.068
Hence,
32.0 v
0
41.1
Vertical component of velocity
v
y
= gt =
(9.81)(12.2)
v
0
Horizontal component of velocity
v
x
= v
0
Angle of trajectory
= tan
1
v
y
v
x
= tan
1
(9.81)(12.2)
v
2
0
Hence,
= 4.05

and 6.67

1
Problem 2
Acceleration of truck
a
C
= 1.2

i
Acceleration of boom with respect to truck
a
B/C
= 0.5(cos 50

i + sin 50

j)
Acceleration of boom
a
B
= a
B/C
+a
C
= 0.879

i 0.383

j
Velocity after 2 s
v
B
=

2
0
a
B
dt =

2
0
(0.879

i 0.383

j) dt
= 1.758

i 0.766

j
Problem 3
Tangential acceleration
a
t
= 0.25
Tangential velocity at 12 s
v
t
= (0.25)(12) = 3
Centripetal acceleration
a
r
=
v
2
r
=
3
2
2.4
= 3.75
Acceleration
a = a
r
e
r
+ a
t
e
t
|a| =

a
2
r
+ a
2
t
= 3.76
2
Friction
F
r
=
s
R = (
s
)(mg)
Newtons second law

F
r
= ma
We consider only the magnitude in this case, since they act along the
same direction.
(
s
)(m)(9.81) = (m)(3.76)

s
= 0.383
Problem 4
Consider a coordinate system with the basis vector

i along the slope
of the bed of the truck (inclined at = 20

to the horizontal), and the

basis vector

j perpendicular to the slope of the bed of the truck.
Let the magnitude of acceleration of truck (to the right) be a
1
.
a
T
= a
1
(cos

i sin

j)
Relative acceleration of the plywood with respect to the bed (a
P/T
) is
along the negative

i direction since it has the tendency to slide down.

Let the magnitude be a
2
.
a
P/T
= a
2

i
Total acceleration of plywood:
a
P
= a
P/T
+a
T
= a
2

i + a
1
(cos

i sin

j)
Consider free-body diagram of plywood and apply Newtons 2nd law.
F

i + N

j + mg(cos

j sin

i) = m(a
P
)
where F is the frictional force, N is the normal reaction, and mg is the
weight under gravity.
3

i component:
F mg sin = m(a
1
cos a
2
)

j component:
N mg cos = m(a
1
sin )
Part (a): In the limiting case when the plywood is about to slide,
a
P/T
= 0.
a
2
= 0 and F =
s
N
Hence,

j component of Newtons 2nd law gives
N = m(g cos a
1
sin )
and

i component of Newtons 2nd law gives

s
m(g cos a
1
sin ) mg sin = m(a
1
cos 0)
With = 20

, g = 9.81m/s
2
and
s
= 0.40, we get a
1
= 0.308m/s
2
.
Part (b): When the plywood is sliding,
F =
k
N
Since the plywood takes t = 0.9s to slide over a distance of s = 2m,
starting from rest (u = 0), the relative acceleration of the plywood with
respect to the truck bed is given by
s = ut +
1
2
a
2
t
2
a
2
=
2s
t
2
= 4.938m/s
2
Hence,

j component of Newtons 2nd law gives
N = m(g cos a
1
sin )
and

i component of Newtons 2nd law gives

k
m(g cos a
1
sin ) mg sin = m(a
1
cos a
2
)
With
k
= 0.30, we get a
1
= 4.172m/s
2
.
4