Problem Sheet 4 Energy Methods for Particles

DEN5108 Dynamic Models of Engineering Systems

1. Explain what is meant by a conservative system.
2. An uncontrolled 1000kg automobile strikes squarely a motorway crash cushion of the type
shown in which the automobile is brought to rest by successively crushing steel barrels. The
length of the crash cushion is 6m, and the magnitude F of the force required to crush the
barrels as a function of the distance x the automobile has moved into the cushion is given
by

(0 x < 1.5m)
80kN
120kN
(1.5m x < 4m)
F =

160kN
(4m x 6m)
(a) If the automobile strikes the crash cushion with a velocity of 100km/h, determine:
i. the distance the automobile will move into the cushion before it comes to rest, and
ii. the maximum deceleration of the automobile.
(b) Determine the maximum velocity with which the automobile can strike the cushion so
that it will not hit the wall behind the cushion.
Ans. (a).i. 3.7m (a).ii. 120m/s2 = 12.2g (!) (b) 38.47m/s=138.5km/h

3. A spring with stiness k is unstretched when the slider of mass m passes position B. If the
slider is released from rest in position A, determine its speed as it passes points B and C.
What is the normal force exerted by the guide on the slider at position C? Neglect friction
between the mass and the circular guide, which lies in a vertical plane.
2
Ans. vB
=

kR2
m (

2
2 1)2 + 2gR, vC
=

kR2
m (

2 1)2 + 4gR, N = kR( 2 1)2 + 5mg

R
k

m
B

R
C

4. A light rod is pivoted at O and carries the 2- and 4-kg particles. If the rod is released from
rest at = 60 , and swings in the vertical plane, calculate:
(a) The velocity v of the 2-kg particle just before it hits the spring in the dashed position.
(b) The maximum compression x of the spring.
Assume that x is small so that the position of the rod when the spring is compressed is
essentially horizontal. The spring has a stiness k = 35kN/m.
Ans. (a) v = 1.162m/s, (b) x = 12.07mm
4kg
300mm

450mm

2kg

5. Use energy methods to determine the accelerations of bodies A and B due to the application
of the 300N force. Neglect all friction and the masses of the pulleys.
Ans. aA = 2.34m/s2 , aB = 1.558m/s2 , T = 81.8N.

70kg

35kg

P= 300N

6. The system below is released from rest with the spring initially stretched 75mm. Calculate
the velocity v of the 45-kg mass after it has dropped 12mm. The spring has a stiness of
1050N/m. Neglect the mass of the small pulley.
Ans. v = 0.371m/s

45kg

7. A thin circular rod is supported in a vertical plane by a bracket at A. Attached to the bracket
and loosely wound around the rod is a spring of constant k = 40N/m and undeformed length
equal to the arc of circle AB. A 200g collar C is unattached to the spring and can slide
without friction along the rod.
(a) Knowing that the collar is released from rest when = 30 , determine:
i. the velocity of the collar as it passes through point B, and
ii. the force exerted by the rod on the collar as it passes through B.
(b) Using a graphical method, approximate the minimum initial angle for which the collar
will reach point D.
Ans. (a).i. vB = 2.39m/s (a).ii. 5.78N (b) 0.75rad (43 )

8. A horizontal pendulum consists of a weightless rod pivoted at one end and attached to a
mass m at the other. The pendulum is supported by a spring with spring constant k. The
mass is initially displaced up from its horizontal equilibrium position by a small displacement
x.
(a) Obtain an expression for the potential energy stored in the spring.
(b) Obtain an expression for the gravitational potential energy of the mass.
(c) If the mass is now released, obtain an expression for the kinetic energy of the mass at
any instant of time.
(d) Hence determine the natural frequency of small oscillations about the equilibrium position.

a
L