Faculty of EMS

Department: Mechatronics
Course: MECHANICS II
Prof. Dr. E. I. Morgan

Tutorial (2)

Subject: Curvilinear Motion

A Cartesian Coordinates

Prob. 1:
The flight path of the helicopter as it takes off
from A is defined by the parametric equations
x = (2t2) m and y = (0.04t3) m, where t is in
seconds.
Determine the distance the helicopter is from A
and the magnitudes and directions of its
velocity and acceleration when t = 10 s.

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Prob. 2: [11.98]
While delivering newspapers, a
girl throws a paper with a
horizontal velocity vo. Determine
the range of values of vo if the
newspaper is to land between
points B and C.

Answer :
4.87m / s  vo 11.44m / s

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Prob. 3: [11.102]
Water flows from a drain spout with an
initial velocity of 0.76 m/s at an angle
of 15o with the horizontal. Determine
the range of values of the distance d for
which the water will enter the trough
BC.

Ans :
0  d  0.524

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Prob. 4: [11.105]
A homeowner uses a snow blower to
clear his drive way. Knowing that the
snow is discharged at an average
angle of 40o with the horizontal,
determine the initial speed vo of the
snow.

Ans :
vo  6.98m / s

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Prob. 5: [11.106]
A basketball player shoots when she is 5 m from the backboard. Knowing
that the ball has an initial velocity vo at an angle of 30o with the horizontal,
determine the value of vo when d is equal to (a) 228 mm, (b) 430 mm.

Ans :
a)vo  9.34m / s
b)vo  9.27 m / s

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Prob. 6: (M.T. Spring 2017)
Three children are throwing snowballs at each other. Child A throws a snowball
with a horizontal velocity vo. The snowball just passes over the head of child B and
hits child C.
(a) Determine the initial velocity vo to satisfy this action.
(b) Find the times of flight (tA→B) from A to B, and (tB→C) from B to C.
(c) Determine the location of child C.
(d) Find the normal and tangential accelerations of the snowball at B and C,
and hence calculate the corresponding radii of curvature at both
positions.
(e) Calculate the initial velocity 𝑣̅𝑜 to pass just over child C and check if it
will pass child B.
Very Important: Draw the used coordinate frame (x – y) on the figure.

0.6
m

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 B Intrinsic Coordinates

Prob. 7: [11.135]
Determine the maximum speed that the cars of the roller-coaster can reach
along the circular portion AB of the track if the normal component of their
acceleration cannot exceed 3g.

Ans :
vmax  97.6 km / h

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Prob. 8: [11.137]
Pin A, wich is attached to link AB, is constrained to move in the circular slot
CD of radius R = 0.9 m. Knowing that at t = 0 the pin starts from rest and
moves so that its speed increases at a constant rate of 0.02 m/s 2, determine
the magnitude of its total acceleration when: (a) t = 0, (b) t = 2 s.

Ans :
a) a A  0.02m / s 2
b) a A  0.02m / s 2

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Prob. 9: [11.140]
A motorist starts from rest at point A on a circular entrance ramp when
t = 0, increases the speed of her automobile at a constant rate and enters the
highway at point B. Knowing that her speed continues to increase at the
same rate until it reaches 100 km/h at point C, determine:
(a) the speed at point B,
(b) the magnitude of the total acceleration when t = 20 s.

Ans :
v B  83.8 km / hr
a  3.71m / s 2

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Prob. 10: [11.143]
A projectile is launched from point A
with an initial velocity vo of
40 m/s at an angle of 30o with the
vertical. Determine the radius of
curvature of the trajectory described by
the projectile
(a) at point A,
(b) at the point B on the trajectory where
the velocity is parallel to the incline.

Ans :
 A  326m
 B  62.8m

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 C Polar Coordinates

Prob. 11: [11.161]

The rotation of rod OA about O is defined by the relation
θ = 0.5e - 0.8t sin 3πt,
where θ and t are expressed in radians and seconds, respectively. Collar B
slides along the rod so that its distance from O is:
r = 0.2 + 1.92t – 6.72t2 + 6.4t3,
where r and t are expressed in meters and seconds, respectively.
When t = 0.5 s, determine:
(a) the velocity of the collar,
(b) the acceleration of the collar,
(c) the acceleration of the collar relative to the rod.

Ans :
a) vr  0 , v  0.0751m / s [vtot  ? mag . & dir.]
b) ar  5.74 m / s , a  8.28 m / s 2 [atot  ? mag . & dir.]
c) relative acc.  ?  5.76 m / s 2

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Prob. 12: [11.164]
The path of a particle P is a limacon. The
motion of the particle is defined by the
relations:
r = b (2 + cos πt) and
θ = πt
where t and θ are expressed in seconds and
radians, respectively. Determine:
(a) the velocity and the acceleration of the
particle when t = 2 s,
(b) the value of θ for which the magnitude
of the velocity is maximum.

Ans :

a) v  3beˆ 

a  4 2beˆ r
b)  2 N , N  0,1,2,.......

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Prob. 13: [11.170]
Pin C is attached to rod BC and slides freely in the slot of rod OA. Rod BC
rotates at the constant rate ω. At the instant when β = 60o determine:
(a) r and ,
(b) r and .
Express your answers in terms of d and .
Note that:   

Ans :
1 1 ω
a ) r   d ,   
2 2
3
b) r   d 2 ,   0
4

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Prob. 14: (M.T. Spring 2017 2nd Chance)
A. Prove that the radial and transversal components of velocity and
acceleration of a particle moving in curvilinear plane path are given
by: Velocity : vr  r v  r
Acceleration : ar  r  r2 a  r  2r

B. To study the performance of a race

car, a high speed camera is
positioned at point A. The camera is
mounted on a mechanism which
permits it to record the motion of the
car as the car travels on straightaway
BC.
a) Determine the speed of the
car in terms of b, θ, and 𝜃̇.
b) Determine the magnitude of
the acceleration in terms of b,
θ, 𝜃,̇ and 𝜃̈.

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