Engineering Mechanics

Problem Sheet – 4 Module - 4

Kinematics of particles

Part A -Rectilinear motion (Uniform Acceleration)

1. What leaks from the ceiling 16m high, at the rate of 5 drops per second. Find the distance between
first and the second drop when first drop has just touched the ground.
Dec 2007 (5 marks)

Ans: d=3.347m t1= 1.8061(s),t2=1.6061(s),y2=12.65m, CB=3.347m

2. A stone is released from top of a tower. During the last second of its motion it covers 1/4 th of the
height of the tower find the height of the tower. Dec 2008 (5marks)

Ans: h=273.26
 Engineering Mechanics
Problem Sheet – 4 Module - 4
Kinematics of particles

3. A stone is dropped from the top of a tower. When it has fallen a distance of10m, another stone is
dropped from a point 38m below the top of the tower. If both the stones reach the ground at the same
time calculate: Dec 2009 (10marks)

(i) The height of the tower.

(ii) The velocities of the stones when they reach the ground.

Ans: H=57.63m , Ans: V1=33.63, V2=19.62 m/s

4. In an Asian games event an athlete accelerates uniformly from the start to his maximum velocity in a
distance of 4m and runs the remaining distance with that velocity. If the athlete completes the race in
10.4 seconds, determine his initial acceleration and his maximum velocity. May 2011 (5 marks)

Ans: Vmax= 10m/s, a=12.5m/s2

5. A stone is thrown vertically upwards and returns to the starting point at the ground in 6 sec. find out
maximum height and initial velocity of stone. May 2013(6 marks)

Ans: h=44.145m

PART B-Variable Acceleration (Rectilinear Motion)

6. Acceleration of particle is directly proportional to the square of time ‘t’. when t=0,particle is at
x=24m.knowing that at t=6sec,x=96m and v=18m/s.Find expressions of x and V in terms of t. also find
velocity and position at t=2sec. Dec 2007 (10 marks)

Ans: x=44.148m, v= 10.3m/s

7. The motion of a particle moving in a straight line is given by the expression s=t 3-3t2+2t+5 where s is
the displacement in meters and ‘t’ is time in seconds. May 2009, (8 marks)

Determine:
 Engineering Mechanics
Problem Sheet – 4 Module - 4
Kinematics of particles

(i) Velocity and acceleration after 4 seconds . Ans: V=26m/s,

a=18m/s2
(ii) Maximum or minimum velocity and corresponding displacement v= -1m/s, s=5m
(iii) Time at which velocity is zero. t=1.577(S)

8. The acceleration of the particle is defined by the relation a=25-3x 2mm/s2. The particle starts with no
initial velocity at the position x=0. (a) Determine the velocity when x=2mm. (b) The position when
velocity is again zero. (c) Position where the velocity is maximum and the corresponding maximum
velocity. Dec 2010(8marks)

Ans: V=±9.165mm/sec, x=±5mm, x=2.886mm, v=9.81mm/sec

9. During a test, the car moves in a straight line such that its velocity is defined by v=0.3(9t 2+2t)m/s,
where ‘t’ is in seconds. Determine the position and acceleration when t=3sec. take at t=0,x=0.
May 2012(5marks)

Ans: a=16.8m/s2, X=27m

10. A particle moving in the +ve X direction has an acceleration a=100-4v 2 m/s2. Determine the time
interval and displacement of a particle when speed changes from 1m/s to 3m/s. Dec 2012(4marks)

Ans: a=16.8m/s2, x=27m

11. For a particle in rectilinear motion a=-0.05V2m/s2, at v=20m/s,X=0. Find X at V=15m/s and
acceleration at x=50m. May 2013(4marks)

Ans: X=5.754m, a==0.1345 m/s2

Part C-Motion diagrams

12. The race car starts from rest and travels along a straight road until it reaches a speed of 42m/s in 50
seconds as shown by v-t graph. Determine the distance travelled by race car in 50 seconds. Draw x-t
and a-t graph. May 2008 (10 marks)

d=960m
 Engineering Mechanics
Problem Sheet – 4 Module - 4
Kinematics of particles

13. Figure shows an plot of ax versus time for a particle moving along x-axis. What is the speed and
distance covered by the particle after 50 seconds? May 2010 (5marks)

Ans: t= 50(s), x= 15000m

14. A Car moves along a straight road such that its velocity is described by the graph shown in fig. For
the first 10 seconds the velocity variation is parabolic and between 10 seconds to 30 seconds the
variation is linear. Construct s-t and a-t graphs for the time period 0<=t<=30s. Dec 2010. (12 marks).

Ans: X10 =333.33m, X30=6333.33m, a= 20m/s2.

15. Velocity –time graph for a particle moving along a straight line is given below. Draw displacement-
time and acceleration –time graphs. Also find the maximum displacement of the particle. May 2011, (12
marks)
 Engineering Mechanics
Problem Sheet – 4 Module - 4
Kinematics of particles

16. Figure shows acceleration- time diagram for rectilinear motion. Construct velocity time and
displacement-time diagrams for the motion assuming that the motion starts with initial velocity of
5m/sec from starting point. Dec 2011(10marks)

17. During a test, the car moves in a straight line such that its velocity is defined by v=0.3(9t 2+2t) m/s,
where‘t ’is in seconds. Determine the position and acceleration when t=3sec. Take at t=0,x=0. May
2012(5 marks) Ans: a=16.8m/s 2, X= 27m.

18. A train leaves station ‘A’ and attains speed at the rate of 4m/s 2 for 6sec and then 6 m/s2 till it reaches
a velocity of 48 m/s. Further the velocity remains constant, then brakes are applied giving the train a
constant deacceleration stopping it in 6 sec. if the total running time between two stations is 40 sec. Plot
a-t, v-t and x-t curve. Determine distance between two stations. May 2012 (10 marks)

Ans: d=1512m

Part (D) Curvilinear Motion

19. The position of the charged particle moving in a horizontal plane is measured electronically. This
information is fed into a computer which employs a curve fitting techniques to generate analytical

expression for its position given by where is in meters and t is in seconds. For
t=1sec, determine. (i) The acceleration of the particle in rectangular components (ii) its normal and
tangential acceleration and (iii) the radius of curvature of the path. May 2008 (10 marks)

Ans: (i) a=6i+12j, (ii) aN= 2.4m/s2 (iii) aT = 13.2m/s2

20. A rocket follows a path such that its acceleration is given by, a= (4i+tj) m/s2 at 10(vector r) =0 it
starts from rest. Dec.2008 (10 marks)

At t=10sec. Determine-

(i) Speed of the rocket.

 Engineering Mechanics
Problem Sheet – 4 Module - 4
Kinematics of particles

(ii) Radius of curvature of its path.

(iii) Magnitude of normal and tangential components of acceleration.

Ans: aT=10.308m/s2,aN=3.1217m/s2, R=1313.4m , v= 64.03m/s

21. If x=1-t and y=t2, where x & y are in meters and ‘t’ is in seconds, determine x & y components of
velocity and acceleration. Also write equation of the path. May 2009 (5marks)

Ans: Vx= 1m/s, Vy= 2t,ax=0 ,ay=2m/s2

22. A particle starting from rest at the position (5, 6, 2) m accelerates at a=6ti-24t 2j+10k m/s2. Determine
the acceleration, velocity and displacement of the particle at the end of 2 seconds. Dec 2009(10marks)

Ans: t=2(s), a=97.26m/s2,v=68.12m/s

23. A particle moves in a plane with constant acceleration a=4i m/s 2. .At t=0 the velocity of this particle
was .V0=i +1.732j m/s .Find velocity of the particle at t=1sec. May 2010 (8marks).

Ans: v1= 5.291m/s

24. A particle moves along a circle of radius 20 cm so that s=20πt2 cm. Find its tangential and normal
acceleration after it has completed a revolution. May 2010 (8marks)

Ans: aT=125.66cm/s2, aN= 1579.14cm/s2

25. A particle travels along the path defined by the parabola y=0.5x 2. If the x-component of velocity is
vX= 5tm/s, Determine the distance of particle from the origin O and the magnitude of acceleration when
t=1seconds. At t=0, x=0 and v=0. May 2011 (5marks) Ans: do= 4m, a=37.83m/s2

26. A point moves along a curved path y=0.4x 2. x=2m its speed is 6m/s increasing at 3m/s 2. This instant
find- May 2012(5marks)

(a) Velocity components along x & y directions

(b) Its acceleration

 Engineering Mechanics
Problem Sheet – 4 Module - 4
Kinematics of particles

27. A point moves along a path y=x2/3 with a constant speed of 8m/s. what are the x & y components of
its velocity when x=3? What is the acceleration of the point at this instant? Dec 2012(6marks)

Part (E) Projectile Motion

28. Determine using fundamentals, the maximum height reached and the maximum distance travelled
on horizontal surface by a projectile fired with velocity of25m/sat an angle of 40 0. Derive expression for
maximum height and maximum distance on horizontal surface and verify your answers. Dec 2007 (10
marks)

Ans: H=13.162m, R= 62.74m, Xmax= 62.735m

29. A boy throws a ball so that it may just clear a wall 3.6 m high. The boy is at a distance of 4.8m from
the wall, the ball was found to hit ground at a distance of 3.6m on the other side of the wall. Find the
least velocity with which the ball can be thrown. Dec 2008 (10 marks)
 Engineering Mechanics
Problem Sheet – 4 Module - 4
Kinematics of particles

Ans: α=60.260, u= 9.78m/s

30. A Ball rebounds at A and strikes the incline plane at point B at a distance 76m as shown in figure. If
the ball rise to a maximum height h=19m above the point of projection, compute the initial velocity and
the angle of projection α. May 2009 (8 marks)

Ans: t=4.0 Seconds, u=22.61m/s, α=37.140

31. Prove that the path traveled by a projectile is a parabola Dec.2009 (5marks)

32.By what percentage the range of projectile is increased if initial velocity is increased by 5% .
May 2010 (5marks) Ans: R 1=10.25%

33. A ball is projected from the top of a tower of 110m height with a velocity of 100m/s and at an angle
of elevation 25 degrees to the horizontal. Neglecting the air resistance find: Dec 2010 (10 marks)

(i) The maximum height the ball will raise from the ground.

(ii) The horizontal distance it will travel just before it strikes the ground

(iii) The velocity with which it will strike the ground.

 Engineering Mechanics
Problem Sheet – 4 Module - 4
Kinematics of particles

Ans:VB=110.26m/sH=201.03m
0
d=970.65m,Ѳ=34.72

34. An Aero plane is flying in horizontal direction with a velocity of 540km/hr and at a height of 2200m.
When it is vertically above the point A on the ground, a body is dropped from it. The body strikes the
ground at pint B. Calculate the distance AB (ignore air resistance). Also find velocity at B and time taken
to reach B. Dec.2010 (8marks)

Ans: t=21.8sec,AB=3176.75m,VB=256.27m/s, Ѳ=54.170

35. Marbles having a mass of 5g fall from rest at A through the glass tube and accumulate in the can at
‘c’. Determine the placement ‘R’ of the can from the end to the tube and the speed at which the
marbles fall into the can. Neglect the size of the can. May 2010 (10marks)
 Engineering Mechanics
Problem Sheet – 4 Module - 4
Kinematics of particles

36. The water sprinkler positioned at the base of a hill releases a stream of water with a velocity of 6m/s
as shown. Determine the point B(X, Y) where the water particles strike the ground on the hill. Assume
that the hill is defined by the equation y=0.2x 2m, and neglect the size of the sprinkler.
May 2012 (8marks)

37. A ball thrown down the incline strike the incline at a distance of 75m along. If the ball rises 20m
above the point of projection. Complete the initial velocity and angle of projection with horizontal.

May 2012 (10 marks)

38. A ball thrown with speed of 12m/s at an angle of 60 0 with a building strikes the ground 11.3m
horizontally from the foot of the building as shown. Determine the height of the building.

Dec 2012 [6marks]

 Engineering Mechanics
Problem Sheet – 4 Module - 4
Kinematics of particles

Part F : Relative Motion

39. Two ships moves form a port at the same time. Ship’A’ Has velocity of 30 km/hr and is moving North
30 0 west, while ship ‘B’ is moving south-west direction with a velocity of 40km/hr. Determine the
relative velocity of A w.r.t B. May 2009 (6marks)

Ans: V=56.83km/hr, Ѳ=13.510

40. A man in a balloon is rising with a constant velocity of 5m/s propels a ball upwards with a velocity of
2m/s relative to the balloon. After what time interval will the ball return to the balloon? May 2012
(5marks)

Ans: t=0.408 sec

 Engineering Mechanics
Problem Sheet – 4 Module - 4
Kinematics of particles