ENGR 215 Concept Questions

Cylindrical Components,
Dependent and Relative Motion
Polar and Cylindrical Components
1. When should polar and cylindrical components be used for curvilinear motion problems?

2. Describe the coordinate system used for polar components. Draw a diagram as part of the
explanation.

3. What are the positive directions for r and  in the polar coordinate system? What are the
units for each?

4. What are the vector equations for the following quantities in a polar coordinate system:
position, velocity, and acceleration?
5. What are the radial and transverse components of the velocity? Include a description of what
the component represents and the equations for them.

6. What is angular velocity and what is the equation for it?

7. What is the equation for finding the magnitude of the velocity in polar components?

8. What are the radial and transverse components of the acceleration? Include a description of
what the component represents and the equations for them.

9. What is angular acceleration and what is the equation for it?

10. What is the equation for finding the magnitude of the acceleration in polar components?
11. What is the difference between polar and cylindrical coordinate systems?

12. What are the vector equations for the following quantities in a cylindrical coordinate system:
position, velocity, and acceleration?

13. If r = f(), how do you find the time derivatives 𝑟̇ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟̈ Write out the general equations for
each.

Absolute Dependent Motion

14. What is dependent motion?

15. What is a datum and why is used in dependent motion problems? Describe it in words and
draw a diagram to help illustrate the concept.
16. Where is the best place to establish a datum?

17. Do the origins (datums) have to be the same for all objects in motion? Explain your answer.

18. For the mechanism below write an equation for the total length of the rope. Also draw on the
diagram your datum and any lengths needed for the equation.

19. From the previous question find the equation that relates the velocity of A to the velocity of
the block D. Show the steps in the process.
20. From the previous question find the equation that relates the acceleration of A to the
acceleration of the block D. Show the steps in the process.

Relative Motion
21. What is relative motion?

22. What is a translating frame of reference? Why is it useful for relative motion?

23. What is the difference between absolute position and relative position?

24. What is the equation that relates the absolute position of two objects to the relative position
between the objects? Make sure to indicate all quantities that are vectors.
25. What is the equation that relates the absolute velocity of two objects to the relative velocity?
Make sure to indicate all quantities that are vectors.

26. What is the equation that relates the absolute acceleration of two objects to the relative
acceleration? Make sure to indicate all quantities that are vectors.