MEC420 TEST NO.

1
Fakulti Kejuruteraan Mekanikal
Universiti Teknologi MARA

Name:

Score:

UiTM No.:

Instruction: There are two (2) questions in this test. Answer all questions.
Question 1

(60 Marks)

a) Consider a system which consists of several masses

connected by an inextensible rope as shown in Figure
Q1. If the system is released from rest where the masses
of the pulleys are negligible and mA = 2mB = 50 kg,

(i) draw the free-body and kinetic diagrams and also state
all your assumptions clearly, (10 Marks)
(ii) determine the acceleration of block A and block B, and
the tension in the rope. (35 marks)

Soln:
FBD and KD of each block:

Assumptions:
[+2]
1) Rope is inextensible
2) Mass of all pulleys is negligible
3) No friction in pulleys and btw the rope
4) No air resistance

y
T

[+4]A
m Aa A

m Ba B

A
Figure Q1

T T

mA

mB

[+4]

WB = 25g

WA = 50g

Kinetics: Block A,
[Fx = max]: WA 4T = mAaA
Block B,
[Fy = may]: WB T = mBaB

[+3]
Kinematics: 4yA + yB = l
(1)
Differentiating with respect to time yields
4 y A + y B = 0 or 4vA + vB = 0
(2)
[+3] (3)
4 yA + yB = 0 or 4aA + aB = 0
mAg 4T = mAaA
or aA = g 4T/mA
mBg T = mBaB
or aB = g T/mB

Substituting (4) and (5) into (3), yields T =

[+10]

(4)

[+10]

5 g (m A mB )
5 g (2mB mB )
10mB g
=
=
(m A 16mB )
(2mB 16mB )
18

(5)
[+3]

Therefore,
aA = 1.09 m/s2, aB = 4.36 m/s2 and T = 136.25 N [ans]
[+3]
[+3]
b) Based on your answers in part a), what is the relative velocity of block A to block B 2 s
after they are released?
[10 Marks]
[+3]

Soln:

vA/B = vA vB where vA = uA + aA t = 0 + ( 1.09)(2) = 2.18 m/s or 2.18 m/s

[+2]
vB = 4vA = 4( 2.18) = 8.72 m/s [+3]
vA/B = 2.18j (8.72j) = 10.90j m/s2 or 10.90 m/s [ans] [+2]

c) Explain the difference in the answer for part a) if the friction in all the pulleys were to be
included.
[5 Marks]

Soln: The system will experience energy losses, which will result in reduced acceleration
[+2]
for both blocks.
[+3]

Question 2

(40 Marks)

a) Ball bearings leave the horizontal trough with a velocity of magnitude u and fall through
the 100-mm-diameter hole as shown in Figure Q2. Determine (i) the maximum value of
u if the ball bearings were to enter the hole BC, and (ii) the corresponding time of flight.
[35 Marks]

u
180 mm

B
300 mm

100 mm

Figure Q2
Soln: Maximum u corresponds to when the ball bearings hit end C. Choosing the x-y [+5]
coordinate with the origin at A, we have at position C, we have x = 0.4 m, y = 0.180 m.

[+5]

[+5]

For the motion in the x direction, we have

[+2]
vx = vocos = u
and
x = xo + vocos t = 0 + ut
and for the motion in the y direction, we have
vy,o = vosin = 0
y = yo + (vosint

1
2

(1)

[+3]

[+2]
gt2 = 0 + 0t

1
2

gt2

[+3]

(2)

Substituting the corresponding values at C into eq(1) through (2), we obtain

from (1)
from (2)

[+2]
u = 0.4/t
2
1
2 gt = 0.180
[+2]

Solving eq(4) and (5) gives

[+3]

(4)
(5)

[+3]

u = 2.09 m/s and t = 0.1916 s

[Ans]

b) If the ball is now fired at an angle = 30o counter clockwise from the horizontal with the
same initial velocity u found in part a), what is your comment? Explain.
[5 Marks]

Soln: The ball bearings will travel farther than before. i.e. the horizontal distance

covered will be more than 400 mm and they will not drop into the hole. Therefore, the
initial velocity u must be reduced if the ball bearings were to drop into the hole.

[+2]

[+3]