MEC420: Dynamics (March – July 2023)

Assignment
No. Student ID Name Marks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Group: RK
This is a group work assignment (max 3 students/group)
Due Date: 07/07/2023 (05:00 PM). Late submission will be penalised. Total

Instruction:

1. Solution MUST include all free-body and kinetics diagrams, calculations, plots, assumptions and
justification, as deemed necessary. Marks will be awarded or deducted accordingly. [60% marks will
be awarded to the solution].
2. Briefly describe the steps of your solutions, such as the fundamental and dynamics formula applied
and their justifications. [30% marks will be awarded to your efforts].
3. This assignment shall be submitted in a report format with good and neat presentation. Attention shall
be especially given to units, vector writing and labelling your answer. [10% marks will be awarded to
your submission & presentation].
4. All answers shall be submitted together as a report in hardcopy to my office at T1-A16-11A.

QUESTION 1

(a) Explain with the aid of diagrams the types of motions of particles.
(CO1/C2/5 marks)

(b) Figure Q1(b) shows a ball projected from point O at a speed of v0 = 40 m/s. Determine the value of the
launch angle 𝛼 which maximizes the distance y. Determine the corresponding value of y.
(CO2/C4/12 marks)

(c) Evaluate the highest elevation of the ball.

(CO3/C6/3 marks)

v0 = 40 m/s
A

O 20 m

100 m
y
Figure Q1(b)
QUESTION 2

(a) Describe with the aids of diagrams, the differences between kinematics of particles and kinematics of rigid
bodies.
(CO1/C2/5 marks)

(b) The low-flying aircraft P is traveling at a constant speed of v = 540 km.h-1 in the holding circle of radius
2 km as shown in Figure Q2(b). For the instant shown, determine
(i) the radial and transverse velocities of the aircraft,
(ii) the radial and transverse acceleration of the aircraft,
(iii) the angular velocity, 𝜃̇, and
(iv) the angular acceleration, 𝜃̈.
(CO2/C4/12 marks)

(c) Evaluate the radial velocity of the aircraft at the same position but it travels in counter direction.
(CO3/C6/3 marks)

Figure Q2(b)
QUESTION 3

(a) Describe the differences between the equations of motion and principle of work and energy in kinetics
analysis of rigid bodies.
(CO1/C2/5 marks)

(b) At the instant shown in Figure Q3(b) the 4-kg collar is released from rest at point B and slides down on
the smooth inclined rod of  = 60o. The slider is attached to two springs of equal undeformed length of 1.2
m and each is of stiffness 500 N/m. The mechanism is in vertical plane. As the collar passes point C,

(i) determine the velocity of the collar,

(ii) draw the free body diagram and the kinetics diagram, and
(iii) determine the force exerted by the rod on the collar.
(CO2/C4/12 marks)

(c) If greater spring stiffness is used while the undeformed length remains the same, evaluate the speed of the
collar at point C.
(CO3/C6/3 marks)

Figure Q3(b)
QUESTION 4

(a) Briefly describe with the aid of diagrams the relative motive motion analysis methods for a rigid body in
general plane motion.
(CO1/C2/5 marks)

o
(b) In the mechanism shown in the Figure Q4(b), when  =  = 60 , the piston of the hydraulic cylinder moves
to the right with a velocity vA = 4 m.s-1 which is decreasing at 3 ms-2. Determine the angular velocity and
angular acceleration of link BC.
(CO2/C4/12 marks)

(c) Evaluate the effect of acceleration of piston on the motion of link BC.
(CO3/C6/3 marks)

Figure Q4(b)
QUESTION 5

(a) Briefly describe with the aid of diagrams the kinematics of rolling without slipping.
(CO1/C2/5 marks)

(b) The bar OA of length 1.2 m is pinned to the point A on the wheel of radius R = 0.8 m as shown in Figure
Q5(b). As the arm OA rotates in counterclockwise direction, the arm causes the wheel to roll without
slipping to the right. Given at the instant shown when  is 30o, the mass centre B of the wheel moves to
the right at speed of 2 m.s-1 which is decreasing at the rate of 10 m.s-2, determine,

(i) the velocity and acceleration of the pin A,

(ii) the angular velocity and acceleration of arm OA, and
(iii) the velocity and acceleration of point A relative to B and draw both vectors.
(CO2/C4/12 marks)

(c) If slipping does occur between the wheel and the horizontal surface, evaluate this effect on the motion of
the wheel by assessing the dynamics principles used.
(CO3/C6/3 marks)

Figure Q5(b)
QUESTION 6

(a) With a simple illustration, explain how the equations of motion relate the free-body and kinetic diagrams
for the cases of centroidal rotation and non-centroidal rotation.
(CO1/C2/5 marks)

(b) The bent arm OAB is made of uniform slender bar of mass m and length L. It is released from rest
from the horizontal position shown in Figure Q6(b). The mechanism is in vertical plane.
Determine after the bent arm has rotated through an angle of θ,

(i) the angular velocity of the bent arm,

(ii) the angular acceleration of the bent arm, and
(iii) the force supported by the pivot at O.

Hint: consider the bent arm OAB as a composite body made of two slender bars OA and AB.
(CO2/C4/12 marks)

(c) If the bent arm in Figure Q6(b) has its mass m entirely concentrated on section AB, i.e. section
OA has a negligible mass, evaluate the force supported by pivot at O.
(CO3/C6/3 marks)

Figure Q6(b)