KYU ESP/ESE YEAR2 2021 CLASSICAL MECHANICS

CLASSICAL MECHANICS ASSIGNMENT 2021

ATTEMPT ALL QUESTIONS
Groups should be of strictly 5 students or less

1. The cage of a pit performs the first part of its descent with uniform acceleration 𝑓
and the remainder with uniform retardation 2𝑓. Prove that if ℎ is the depth of the
1
shaft and 𝑡 is the time of descent, ℎ = 3 𝑓𝑡 2 .

2. A train travels between stations 𝐴 and 𝐵 in time 𝑇. It accelerates uniformly from rest
for a time 𝛼𝑇 and retards uniformly to rest at the end of the journey for a time 𝛽𝑇.
During the intermediate time, it travels with speed 𝑣. Prove that the average speed
1
for the whole journey is 2 𝑣(2– 𝛼– 𝛽).

3. A body of mass 5 kg initially resting on a smooth horizontal surface is acted upon by

two forces 42 N at 30° below the horizontal and a horizontal force of 8 ⋅ 2 N as
shown.

8⋅2N 5kg
5 kg 30°

42 N
Calculate the:

(i) normal reaction on the body.

(ii) acceleration of the body along the surface.

4. A light string passes over one fixed pulley, under a movable pulley of mass 𝑀 and
over a second fixed pulley. A mass 𝑚1 is attached to one end of the string, a mass 𝑚2
to the other end. Assuming the parts of the string not in contact with the pulley to be
4𝑚 𝑚2 𝑀𝑔
vertical, prove that the tension in the string is 𝑀(𝑚 +𝑚1 )+4𝑚 𝑚
.
1 2 1 2

5. Two forces, (4𝒊 − 5𝒋) N and (𝑝𝒊 + 𝑞𝒋) N, act on a particle 𝑃 of mass 𝑚 kg. The
resultant of the two forces is 𝑹. Given that 𝑹 acts in a direction which is
parallel to the vector (𝒊 − 2𝒋):

(a) find the angle between 𝑹 and the vector 𝒋.

(b) show that 2𝑝 + 𝑞 + 3 = 0.

Given that 𝑞 = 1 and that 𝑃 moves with an acceleration of magnitude
8√5 m s −2,

(c) find the value of 𝑚.

BY MUKALAZI HERBERT kyambogo university math department Page 1

 KYU ESP/ESE YEAR2 2021 CLASSICAL MECHANICS

6. A particle of weight 𝑊 is at rest on an inclined plane under the action of a force 𝑃

acting parallel to the line of greatest slope in an upward direction. If 𝜆 is the angle of
friction and the angle of inclination of the plane is 2𝜆. Show that:
𝑃max = 𝑊 tan 𝜆 (4cos2 𝜆– 1) and 𝑃min = 𝜇𝑊.

7. 𝑂𝐴𝐵𝐶 is a square of side 2 m, 𝑂, 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝐶 are the points (0,0), (2,0)(2,2) and (0,2)
respectively. Forces of magnitude 5, 8, 3 and 5√2 newtons act along 𝑂𝐴, 𝐵𝐴, 𝑂𝐶 and
𝐴𝐶 respectively. Show that this system of forces is equivalent to a couple and find its
moment. If a fifth force of magnitude 6√2 N acts along 𝑂𝐵, find the equation of the
line of action of the resultant of the enlarged system.

8. Two particles 𝑃 and 𝑄 are projected simultaneously from a point 𝑂 with the same
speed but at different angles of elevation and they both pass through a point 𝐶
which is at a horizontal distance 2ℎ from 𝑂 and at a height ℎ above the level of 𝑂.
The particle 𝑃 is projected at an angle tan−1 2 above the horizontal. Show that:

10𝑔ℎ
(i) the speed of projection is √ .
3
4
(ii) 𝑄 is projected at an angle tan−1 (3) to the horizontal.

(iii) the time interval between the times of arrival of the two particles at 𝐶 is
2ℎ
(3 − √5)√(3𝑔).

9. Two ships 𝐴 and 𝐵 have the following position vectors 𝒓 and velocity vectors 𝒗 at
times stated.
𝒓𝐴 = (−2𝒊 + 3𝒋) km 𝒗𝐴 = (12𝒊– 4𝒋) km h−1 at 11.45 a. m
𝒓𝐵 = (8𝒊 + 7𝒋) km 𝒗𝐵 = (2𝒊– 14𝒋) km h−1 at 12 noon.
Assuming the ships do not alter their velocities, find their least distance of
separation. If ship 𝐵 has guns with a range of up to 2 km, find for what length of time
𝐴 is within range.

END

BY MUKALAZI HERBERT kyambogo university math department Page 2