TWO MARKS – ENGINEERING MECHANICS

1. Define rigid body and a particle.

Rigid Body: It is the combination of a large number of particles which does not deform due
to the forces acting on it.
Particle: it is a small part of matter which occupies single point in space.

2. Define coplanar and concurrent forces

Coplanar: In a coplanar force system, lines of action of all forces lie on the same plane
Concurrent: In a concurrent force system, lines of action of all forces pass through a single
point.

3. Differentiate between the resultant and the equilibrant

Resultant: It is a single equivalent force which can replace the given force system.
Equilibrant: It is the force which brings the system of forces into equilibrium. It is equal and
collinear to the resultant force but opposite in nature.

4. Define Moment, couple

Moment of Force about a point is defined as the turning effect of the force about that
point. Moment = Force x Perpendicular distance.
Couple: A couple is that two coplanar parallel forces of equal magnitude acting in opposite
direction to each other.

5. Define degrees of freedom.

The number of degrees of freedom of a system represents the number of
coordinates which is required to specify the configuration of the system.

6. Write the equations of equilibrium of a particle and rigid body in a plane

Particle: ∑H = 0, ∑ V =0
Rigid Body: ∑H = 0, ∑ V =0, ∑M = 0

7. State the triangle law of forces

If two forces acting simultaneously on a particle be represented in magnitude and
direction by the two sides of triangle, their resultant may be represented in magnitude and
direction by the third side of the triangle taken in opposite order.

8. State the parallelogram law of forces

If two forces acting simultaneously on a particle be represented in magnitude and
direction by the two adjacent sides of parallelogram, their resultant may be represented in
magnitude and direction by the diagonal of the parallelogram.

9. State the polygon law of forces.

If a number of forces acting simultaneously on a particle be represented in
magnitude and direction by the sides of a polygon taken in order, then the resultant of all
these forces may be represented in magnitude and direction by the closing side of the
polygon taken in opposite order.

10. State Lami’s theorem

If three coplanar forces acting at a point be in equilibrium, then each force is
propotional to the sine of the angle between the other two forces.

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 11. State Newton’s laws of motion
1st law:
Every body continues to be in state or rest or of uniform motion unless it is
compelled by an external force to change that state.
2nd law:
The acceleration of the particle will be proportional to the force and will be in the
direction of the force. (F=ma)
3rd law: To every action there is equal and opposite reaction.

12. State the principle of transmissibility

The conditions of equilibrium of motion of a rigid body will remain unchanged if the
force acting at a given point of the rigid body is replaced by a force of same magnitude and
direction, but acting at a different point provided that the two forces have the same line of
action.

13. What is a free body diagram?

It is a sketch used to represent all the forces acting on a body when the body is
isolated from its surroundings.

14. State the Newton’s law of gravitation

Two particles of mass m1 and m2 are attracted towards each other along the line
connecting them with a force whose magnitude ‘F’ is proportional to the product of their
masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance (r) between them.
F = G m1m2/r2

15. State Varignon’s theorem

If a number of coplanar forces are acting simultaneously on a body, the algebraic
sum of the moments of all the forces about any point is equal to the moment of the
resultant forces about the same point.

16. Write the classification of

Trusses – Perfect truss, Deficient truss, Redundant truss
Beams – Simply supported beam, Continuous beam, Cantilever beam, Overhanging beam
Supports – Roller support, Hinged support, Fixed support
Loads – Uniformly distributed load (UDL), Concentrated or point load, Uniformly varying
load (UVL)

17. What are the assumptions in the analysis of trusses?

i) Truss members are connected only at their ends
ii) Truss members are connected by frictionless pins
iii) Trusses are loaded only at the joints
iv) The weight of the members may be neglected.

18. Define Angle of friction

It is the angle between the resultant the normal reaction to the body when the
motion is impending.

19. Define Angle of repose

It is the maximum angle of inclination for which the block will not slide under the
action of gravity.

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 20. Differentiate between Coefficient of static and dynamic friction
Coefficient of static friction is the ratio of limiting friction force to the normal
component of the reaction of the contact surface.
Coefficient of dynamic friction is the ratio of kinetic friction force to the normal
component of the reaction of the contact surface.

21. State the laws of friction

i) Direction of frictional force is opposite to the direction of motion of the body
ii) Frictional force is independent of the area of contact between the surfaces.
iii) Frictional force depends on the smoothness/ roughness of the surfaces of contact.
iv) The magnitude of frictional force is exactly equal to the force applied till the limiting
value is reached.
v) Frictional force is never greater than the force required to prevent the motion.

22. What is self locking of a screw?

A screw will be self locking if the friction angle is greater than the lead angle.

23. Define pitch and lead

Pitch: it is the distance between two consecutive threads in a screw.
Lead: It is the distance through which the screw advances in one turn.

24. Define Centre of gravity, Centre of mass and Centroid

Centre of gravity is an imaginary point at which the entire weight of the body is assumed to
act.
Centre of mass is the point where the entire mass of the body is assumed to be
concentrated.
Centroid is the point at which the entire area of the figure is assumed to be concentrated.

25. Differentiate between centroid and centre of gravity

Centroid is the geometric property of geometrical figures like line, area and volume.
Centre of gravity is the physical property of a body like wire, rod, disc and solids.

26. Write the expressions for finding the centroid of a line and an area.
Line - x = ⎰xdl/L; Y = ydl/L; Area x = ⎰xda/A ; Y = ⎰yda/A

27. Define Radius of Gyration

Radius of gyration about an axis is defined as the distance from that axis where the
entire area A of the body is assumed to be concentrated such that the moment of inertia
about the axis is same.

28. State the two theorem of Pappus and Guildinus

Theorem 1:
The area of surface of revolution obtained by revolving a line or curve is equal to the
length of the generating line or curve multiplied by the distance travelled by the centroid of
the generating line/curve.
Theorem 2:
The volume of a body obtained by revolving an area is equal to the generating area
multiplied by the distance travelled by the centroid of the generating area. . fig

29. State the parallel and perpendicular axes theorems.

Parallel Axis theorem states that the moment of inertia of an area about an axis is
equal to the sum of the centroidal moment of inertia and the product of area and the square
of the distance between the two parallel axes.

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 Perpendicular axis theorem states that the moment of inertia of a lamina about an axis
perpendicular to the lamina passing through its centroid is the sum of the moment of inertias of
the lamina about two mutually perpendicular axes passing through the centroid.

30. What are called principal axes and centroidal principal axes?
The axes about which the moment of inertia is maximum and minimum are known as
principal axes. When these two axes pass through the centroid of an area, it is known as
centroidal principal axes.

31. What is mass moment of inertia?

Mass moment of inertial of a system is the measure of resistance offered by the system to
its rotational motion.

32. What is polar moment of inertia?

Moment of inertia of an area about an axis perpendicular to the area through a pole point in
that area is called polar moment of inertia.

34. Define Linear momentum.

The quantity of motion possessed by a body moving in a straight line is called linear
momentum. It is defined as the product of its mass and velocity. (P=M x V). Its unit is Kg.m/Sec.

35. What are the types of translation motion of a particle?

Rectilinear Motion: The motion of a particle along a straight line.
i. Uniform Acceleration
ii. Variable Acceleration
Curvilinear Motion: The motion of a particle along a curved path.

36. What is a projectile, Trajectory, and the Range

Projectile: A particle projected in space at an angle to the horizontal plane.
Trajectory: The path described by the projectile.
Range: The distance along the plane between the point of projection and the point at which
the projectile hits the plane at the end of its journey.

37. Define principle of kinematics and Kinetics

Kinematics is the study of motion of a moving body without considering the forces which
cause the motion. Kinetics is the study of motion of a moving body which also considers the
external forces causing the motion.

38. Define Coefficient of restitution

It is the ratio of the magnitude of restitution impulse to the magnitude of
deformation impulse. It is denoted by the letter ’e’.

39. What is general plane motion?

A rigid body is said to be in general plane motion if it undergoes a combination of
translation and rotation. It is neither a pure rotation nor pure translation.

40. Define instantaneous centre of rotation.

When a body is in general plane motion, it undergoes both translation and rotation.
For the sake of simplicity, this combined motion of translation and rotation may be assumed
to be a motion of pure rotation about a centre point known as instantaneous centre.

41. What are the types of plane rigid body motion?

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 Translation: A rigid body is said to be in translation if the linear displacement of every point
in the rigid body is the same
Rotation about a fixed axis: If all the particles of the body move along circles centered on a
fixed axis.
General plane motion: combination of translation and rotation.

42. What are the types of impact of elastic bodies?

Direct impact: the velocities of the two colliding bodies before collision are collinear with
the line of impact.
Oblique impact: the velocities of the two colliding bodies before collision are not collinear
with the line of impact.
Central impact: The line of impact passes through the mass centres of the bodies.

43. Define: Angular velocity, angular displacement

Angular Velocity: It is the rate of change of angular displacement. Its unit is Rad/ Sec.
Angular displacement: It is the rate of change of angular velocity. Its unit is Rad/ Sec2.

44. State the principle of impulse – momentum

It states that the impulsive force acting on a particle is equal to the change in its
linear momentum. Force x time = Final momentum – Initial momentum

45. Define Work, energy and power

Work: Work is defined as the product of force and displacement of the body.
Work done by the force = force x distance. Its unit is Nm or joule.
Energy: The capacity to do work is known as Energy. It is classified into
i) Potential energy: Capacity to do work by the virtue of the position of the body
(P= mgh).
ii) Kinetic energy: Capacity to do work by the virtue of motion of the body
(KE=1/2 mv2.)
Power: The rate of doing work is known as power. Power = Work done/time. Its unit is
Nm/sec or Watt.

46. State De-Alembert’s principle

De-Alembert’s principle is an application of Newton’s second law. It states that, “the system
of forces acting on a body in motion is in dynamic equilibrium with the inertia force of the
body.”

47. State the principle of conservation of energy

It states that “Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed but can be converted from
one form into another.”

48. Define linear impulse and impulse motion.

When a large force acts on a particle for a short period of time and produces a definite
change in its momentum, then such a force is called an impulsive force. The motion caused
by such an impulsive force is known as impulse motion.

49. State the principle of Work – Energy

It states that the work done by a particle is equal to the change in its kinetic energy.
Work done = Final kinetic energy – Initial kinetic energy

50. State the principle of conservation of momentum

It states that the total linear momentum of the system remains constant if there is no
external force acting on the system (i.e) Initial momentum = Final momentum

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