UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

2019 NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER EXAMINATIONS

DEPARTMENT: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

PAPER CODE AND TITLE: ME103 ENGINEERING MECHANICS

DURATION: 3 HOURS

EXAMINER: ENG. N. NYONI

AUTHORIZED MATERIALS: NON-PROGRAMMABLE CALCULATOR

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

a. This paper contains six (6) questions.

b. Answer any four (4) questions.
c. Start each question on a new page.
d. Each question carries 25 marks.

NB: DO NOT TURN OVER THE QUESTION PAPER OR COMMENCE WRITING

UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.

Page1 of 6
Question 1

a) The position of a particle which moves along a straight line is defined by the
relationship

X = t3 – 6 t2- 15t + 40, where X is expressed in meters and t in seconds.

Find
i)The time when the velocity is zero. [5]
ii)The position and distance travelled by the particle at that time. [4]
iii)The acceleration of the particle at that time. [1]

iv)Distance travelled by the particle from t = 4s to t =6s [5]

a) A 100 N force acts as shown in fig. Q1 on a 300N block placed on an inclined plane.
The coefficient of friction between the block and the plane are µs = 0.25 and µk = 0.20.
Determine whether the block is in equilibrium and find the frictional force. [10]

300N

100N 450

Fig.Q1 Block on inclined plane

Page2 of 6
Question 2

a) With aid of diagrams differentiate statically determinate from statically indeterminate

reactions. [6]
b) Fig.Q2b shows a fixed crane that has a mass of 1000kg and is used to lift a 2400kg
crate. It is held in place by a pin at A and a rocker at B. The centre of gravity of the
crane is located at G,
i) Draw a free body diagram for this arrangement [3]
ii) Determine the components of the reactions at A and B [16]

2400kg crate
A

1.5m G
B

2m 4m

Fig.Q2b Fixed Crane

Question 3
a) Give three applications of trusses in engineering practice [3]
b) For the truss shown in fig. Q3 using method of joints calculate the force in each
member of the truss. [22]
2000N 12M 1000N 12M
A B C

8M
D E

6M 12M 6M
Page3 of 6
Question 4
4a
A 40t rail car travels at 4km/h and collides with a 100t wagon on the same track, moving in
the opposite direction at 1,2km/h
i) Find their velocities immediately after impact, assuming no energy loss [8]
ii) Find the impulse between them [5]

4.b
A column is made up of steel tube,70mm inside diameter, filled with concrete. If the
maximum stress in the concrete is not to exceed 21 N/mm2 and the column is to carry a
compressive load of 195KN,

i) Calculate the minimum outside diameter of the tube. [12]

For concrete E = 20KN/mm2 and for Steel E = 200KN/mm2.

Question 5
a) State and explain the major assumptions made when deriving the Euler –Bernoulli
equation of bending or the equation for evaluating bending stresses in beams.
[10]
b) The beam shown in the fig. Q5 below is subjected to a bending moment M KNm acting
in the sense shown. If the maximum tensile and compressive stresses are limited to
30MN/m2 and 45 MN/m2 ,respectively,
Calculate the maximum allowable value of M.
[15]

Page4 of 6
Beam for Q.5b

Question 6
a) A shaft is used in an aircraft engine is 50mm diameter. The maximum allowable shear
stress is 84 MN/m2.
Find the torsional strength of the shaft, if the shaft has a hole bored in it, find the percentage
reduction in strength and mass. (The hole is concentric with shaft axis)
i) If the hole is 40mm in diameter. [7]
ii) If the hole is 25mm in diameter. [8]

b) The beam shown in fig. Q6 is simply supported at C and D, and loaded at A and D by
concentrated masses of 1 tonne and 3 tonnes, respectively,

Draw the shear force and bending moment diagrams for the beam. [10]

Page5 of 6
Fig.Q6 Simply Supported Beam

Page6 of 6