A Text Book on

ENGINEERING
MECHANICS
for

GATE
PSUs & Other Competitive Exams

Dr. U.C. Jindal

M.Tech, Ph.D.
Former Professor & Head of the Department
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Delhi College of Engineering, Delhi

Publications
 Publications

MADE EASY Publications

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Engineering Mechanics for GATE, PSUs and Other Competitive Exams

© Copyright by MADE EASY Publications.
All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a
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this book.

First Edition : 2015

Second Edition : 2016
Reprint : 2017

© All rights reserved by MADE EASY PUBLICATIONS. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form
without the written permission from the publisher.
Preface
At the outset I must thank Mr. B. Singh (Chairman and Managing Director of MADE EASY Group)
who has very kindly given me an opportunity to serve the student community through the
publication of this book on Engineering Mechanics.

The present book has been designed as a self study book taking into account the severe
shortage of technical teachers in engineering colleges and technical institutions.

The text in the book is well explained through examples supplemented by self explanatory
illustrations, exercises supplemented by hints, key points to remember, thought provoking
multiple choice questions, special problems so that a student can learn this basic subject
in the shortest possible time.

The book covers all the syllabi in Engineering Mechanics of GATE, PSUs, all the universities,
IITs, NITs, deemed universities. Students appearing in competitive examinations and other
competitive examinations will find the book as an asset to them. The book also serves the
purpose of AMIE students.

The book will greatly help the students who could not grasp the subject in the class room.

Any suggestion for the improvement in the text of the book will be thankfully acknowledged.

Dr. U. C. Jindal
Author
Contents
Engineering Mechanics

Chapter 1 Chapter 3
Vector Quantities in Mechanics............................ 1 Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies................................ 28
1.1 Introduction..............................................................................1 3.1 Introduction............................................................................28
1.2 Position Vector.........................................................................1 3.2 Support Reactions................................................................29

1.3 Displacement Vector..............................................................2 3.3 Free body Diagrams.............................................................30

3.4 Conditions of Equilibrium..................................................31
1.4 Force Vector...............................................................................3
3.5 System of Concurrent Coplanar Forces.........................33
1.5 Moment of a Force about a Point......................................4
3.6 Coplanar Force Systems......................................................34
1.6 Varignon’s Theorem................................................................5
3.7 Equilibrium of a Two Force Body.....................................35
1.7 Moment of a Force about an Axis.....................................7
3.8 Equilibrium of a Three Force Body..................................36
1.8 Couple and its Moment........................................................8
3.9 Lami’s Theorem......................................................................37
1.9 Component of a Couple about a Line...........................10 3.10 Two Parallel Forces................................................................38
Problems..................................................................................11 3.11 Several Parallel Forces in a Plane.....................................40
Practice Problems.................................................................12 Problems..................................................................................41
Multiple Choice Questions................................................12 Practice Problems.................................................................45
Explanations............................................................................13 Special Problems...................................................................46
Multiple Choice Questions................................................47
Explanations............................................................................50
Chapter 2
Equivalent Coplanar Force Systems................... 15 Chapter 4
2.1 Introduction............................................................................15
Plane Trusses........................................................ 53
2.2 Resultant of a Force by an Equivalent Couple
4.1 Introduction............................................................................53
and a Force at any other Point.........................................17
4.2 Types of Plane Trusses.........................................................54
2.3 Resultant of a Coplanar Force System...........................17
4.3 Determination of Support Reactions.............................54
2.4 Resultant of a Parallel Forces Systems...........................19 4.4 Determination of Forces in Members of the Truss....56
2.5 System of Distributed Forces............................................20 4.5 Method of Joints...................................................................56
Problems..................................................................................21 4.6 Method of Sections..............................................................58
Practice Problems.................................................................23 Practice Problems.................................................................63
Multiple Choice Questions................................................24 Multiple Choice Questions................................................64
Explanations............................................................................26 Explanations............................................................................69

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Chapter 5 Chapter 8
Centroid and Center of Gravity.......................... 73 Second Moment of Area (Moment of Inertia).........112
5.1 Introduction............................................................................73 8.1 Introduction......................................................................... 112
5.2 Location of Centroid............................................................73 8.2 Rectangular Section.......................................................... 112
5.3 Centroid of Simple Sections..............................................75 8.3 Triangular Section.............................................................. 113
5.4 Centre of Gravity of 3 Dimensional Bodies..................78 8.4 Circular Section................................................................... 113
5.5 Theorems of Pappus-Guldinus.........................................81 8.5 Polar Moment of Inertia................................................... 114
Multiple Choice Questions................................................83 8.6 Parallel Axes Theorem...................................................... 115
Explanations............................................................................85 8.7 Principal Axes and Product of Inertia.......................... 116
8.8 Parallel Axes Theorem for Product of Inertia............ 117

Chapter 6 Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 119

Explanations......................................................................... 121
Friction ............................................................. 86
6.1 Introduction............................................................................86
6.2 Laws of Dry Friction or Coulomb’s Friction..................87 Chapter 9
6.3 Angle of Friction....................................................................87 Virtual Work....................................................... 122
6.4 Block on a Horizontal Plane...............................................88 9.1 Introduction......................................................................... 122
6.5 Two Mating Blocks................................................................89 9.2 Virtual Work.......................................................................... 122
6.6 Angle of Repose.....................................................................90 9.3 Work Done by a Couple................................................... 123
6.7 A Force Applied on a Body Lying on an Inclined Plane.....90 9.4 Principle of Virtual Work Applied to Beams.............. 124
6.8 Bodies on Inclined Plane Connected Through a Link...91 9.5 Potential Energy and Stability....................................... 125
6.9 Ladder
.......................................................................................93
9.6 Multiple Degrees of Freedom....................................... 128
6.10 Friction in Wheels..................................................................94
Problems............................................................................... 130
Problems..................................................................................95
Practice Problems.............................................................. 132
Practice Problems.................................................................97
Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 134
Multiple Choice Questions................................................98
Explanations......................................................................... 135
Explanations......................................................................... 101

Chapter 10
Chapter 7
Rectilinear Motion............................................. 137
Application of Friction in Machines................. 104
10.1 Introduction......................................................................... 137
7.1 Introduction......................................................................... 104
10.2 Rectilinear Motion with Constant Acceleration...... 138
7.2 Screw Threads..................................................................... 104
10.3 Motion Under Gravity....................................................... 139
7.3 Flat Belt Drive...................................................................... 106
10.4 Acceleration as a Function of Time.............................. 140
7.4 V-Belt and Rope Drive....................................................... 107
Problems............................................................................... 141
7.5 Rolling Resistance.............................................................. 108
Practice Problems.............................................................. 142
Practice Problems.............................................................. 110
Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 143
Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 110
Explanations......................................................................... 144
Explanations......................................................................... 111

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Chapter 11 14.5 Tangential and Normal Forces in Curvilinear Motion.....178
14.6 Motion of a Bicycle Rider Along a Circular Track..... 179
Curvilinear Motion............................................ 146
Problems............................................................................... 180
11.1 Introduction......................................................................... 146
Practice Problems.............................................................. 182
11.2 Plane Curvilinear Motion................................................. 146
Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 183
11.3 Rectangular Coordinates................................................. 147
Explanations......................................................................... 184
11.4 Tangential and Normal Co-ordinates.......................... 148
Problems............................................................................... 149
Practice Problems.............................................................. 150
Chapter 15
Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 152 Dynamics of Rigid Bodies in Translation......... 186
Explanations......................................................................... 153 15.1 Introduction......................................................................... 186
15.2 D’ Alembert’s Principle..................................................... 187

Chapter 12 Practice Problems.............................................................. 192

Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 193
Relative Velocity................................................ 154 Explanations......................................................................... 194
12.1 Introduction......................................................................... 154
12.2 Motion Relative to a Frame in Translation................. 154
Chapter 16
12.3 Absolute and Relative Velocity in Plane Motion..... 156
Problems............................................................................... 157 Mass Moment of Inertia.................................... 195
16.1 Introduction......................................................................... 195
Practice Problems.............................................................. 160
16.2 Parallel-Axes Theorem...................................................... 196
Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 160
Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 199
Explanations......................................................................... 162
Explanations......................................................................... 200

Chapter 13
Chapter 17
Motion of Rotation............................................ 163
Dynamics of Rigid Bodies in Plane Motion...... 201
13.1 Introduction......................................................................... 163
17.1 Introduction......................................................................... 201
13.2 Rotation about a Fixed Axis............................................ 163
Problems............................................................................... 203
13.3 Various Types of Motion of Rotation........................... 165
Practice Problems.............................................................. 206
13.4 Instantaneous Centre of Rotation................................ 166
Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 207
Problems............................................................................... 169
Explanations......................................................................... 208
Practice Problems.............................................................. 170
Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 171
Explanations......................................................................... 172
Chapter 18
Rotation about Fixed Axis................................. 210

Chapter 14 18.1 Introduction......................................................................... 210

18.2 Rotation about Centroidal Axis..................................... 212
Kinetics of a Particle.......................................... 173 18.3 Inertia Force Method........................................................ 213
14.1 Introduction......................................................................... 173
18.4 Centre of Percussion......................................................... 214
14.2 Newton’s Second Law of Motion.................................. 173
Practice Problems.............................................................. 216
14.3 Types of Problems.............................................................. 174
Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 217
14.4 Motion of Two Bodies in Contact................................. 177
Explanations......................................................................... 218

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Chapter 19 20.3 Pile and Pile Hammer........................................................ 235
Problems............................................................................... 237
Work and Energy............................................... 220
Practice Problems.............................................................. 238
19.1 Introduction......................................................................... 220
Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 239
19.2 Work done by a Force during Sliding Motion.......... 222
Explanations......................................................................... 240
19.3 Work done by a Moment during Motion of Rotation......223
19.4 Change of Potential Energy in a Spring..................... 224
19.5 Rolling Motion under Gravity........................................ 225
Chapter 21
Practice Problems.............................................................. 227 Impact : Collision of Elastic Bodies................... 241
Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 228 21.1 Introduction......................................................................... 241
Explanations......................................................................... 230 21.2 Coefficient of Restitution................................................ 242
21.3 Impact of a Body on another Stationery Body........ 244

Chapter 20 Problems............................................................................... 245

Practice Problems.............................................................. 247
Impulse and Momentum................................... 232
Multiple Choice Questions............................................. 248
20.1 Introduction......................................................................... 232
Explanations......................................................................... 250
20.2 Angular Impulse and Angular Momentum Principle.......234

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