Timoshenko, Young & Rao Problem Set 7.

1. The rectilinear motion of a particle is defined by the displacement-time equation x = x o +v o t

+ 1/ 2 at2. Construct displacement – time and velocity – time diagram for this motion and find
the displacement and velocity at time t2 = 2 s. The following numerical data are given: x o =
250mm, v 0 = 125mm/s, a = 0.5s2.

Displacement after 2s = 1.5meters and velocity of the body = 1.125m/s

2. The velocity – time relationship of a moving particle is given by the equation

where c = 2.4m/s2. Determine the displacement of the particle at the instant t 3 =
3s if there is no initial displacement.

3. If the crank of the engine shown in figure rotates ω = 4π radians/s and the crank radius r =
250mm, find the maximum velocity and maximum acceleration of the piston

Assume that the position of piston is at B when the crank is at A. Then the crank rotates by
ωt radians.

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Timoshenko, Young & Rao Problem Set 7.1

4. A rope AB attached at B to a small block of negligible dimensions and passes over a pulley
C so that its free end A hangs 1.5 m above the ground when the block rests on the floor.
The end of the rope is moved horizontally in a straight line by a man walking with uniform
velocity v o = 3 m/s. (a) Plot the velocity – time diagram for the motion of the block. (b) Find
the time t required for the block to reach the pulley if h = 4.5 m and the pulley is negligibly

small.

The initial position of the man was at Ao and the weight was resting on the floor. The man is
walking at uniform velocity v o . After time t, the position of the man is at A which is at a
distance from Ao is v o t. The difference between AC and AoC is the lift of the weight, BB1.

Following solution is copied from engineering Mechanics – Ramamrutham:

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Timoshenko, Young & Rao Problem Set 7.1

Proposed to solve as follows:

Assume the time taken by the body is T to travel from ground to pulley, distance 6m;

OR

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Timoshenko, Young & Rao Problem Set 7.1

5. A particle starts from rest and moves along a straight line with constant acceleration a. If it
acquires a velocity v = 3 m/s after having travelled a distance s = 7.5m, find the magnitude
of the acceleration.

6. A bullet leaves the muzzle of a gun with velocity v = 750 m/s. Assuming constant
acceleration from breach to muzzle, find the time t occupied by bullet in travelling through
the gun barrel, which in 750mm long.

7. A ship while being launched slips down the skids with uniform acceleration. If 10s is required
to traverse the first 4.8m, what time will be required to slide the total distance 120m? With
what velocity v will the ship strike the water?

8. Water drips from a faucet at the uniform rate of n drops per second. Find the distance x
between any two adjacent drops as a function of the time t that the trailing drop has been in
motion. Neglect air resistance and assume constant acceleration g = 9.81m/s2.

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Timoshenko, Young & Rao Problem Set 7.1

Problem solved in the book as follows:

9. A stone dropped into a well and falls vertically with constant acceleration g = 9.81m/s2. The
sound of impact of the stone on the bottom of the well is heard 6.5s after it is dropped. If the
velocity of sound is 336 m/s, how deep is the well?
Assume the depth of the well is d meters.
If time requires to reach the bottom of the well is t 1 , then d = ½ gt 1 2;
Sound of impact reaches the top of wall, say, t 2 , then t 2 = d ÷ 336
6.5 = t 1 + t 2

10. The rectilinear motion of a particle is defined by the displacement – time equation x = x o (2e-
kt –e-2kt), in which x o is the initial displacement, k is a constant, and e is the natural

logarithmic base. Sketch the displacement – time curve for this motion and find the
maximum velocity of the particle.

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Timoshenko, Young & Rao Problem Set 7.1

11. If the velocity – time diagram for the rectilinear motion of a particle is the half wave of a sine
curve as shown in figure, find the total distance x that particle travels during the half period
time intervals ½ τ.

12. If the velocity – time diagram shown in figure is a parabola with vertical axis, find the
distance travelled by the particle during the time interval ½ τ.

13. An automobile starting from rest increases its speed from 0 to v with a constant acceleration
a 1 , runs at this speed for a time, and finally comes to rest with constant deceleration a 2 . If
the total distance travelled is S, find the total time t required.

14. The greatest possible acceleration or deceleration that a train may have is a, and its
maximum speed is v. Find the minimum time in which the train can go from one station to
next if the total distance is s.

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Timoshenko, Young & Rao Problem Set 7.1

Assume the train accelerates for t ace seconds and decelerates for t dec seconds. Also distance
covered during acceleration and deceleration is s ace and s dec respectively.

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