ME 340 - Dynamics of Mechanical Systems (Fall 2022) Instructor: Wenbin Wan

Homework 02
University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana first name last name

Guidelines

1. The Tex source code of this homework assignment is available at Overleaf project.

2. The homework should be submitted via Gradescope.

3. Use a new page for each problem.

4. Late homework will not be accepted. (Due date: See Gradescope)

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ME 340 - Dynamics of Mechanical Systems [Homework 02] first name last name

Problem 1 [10 pts]

According we have discussed in the lecture, write down the passive mechanical and circuits
elements and their equations, and derive the MSD and RLC systems in ODEs (starting from
Newton’s 2nd law and Kirchhoff’s law). [1 pt ×6 + 2 pts× 2]

Solution:

1. Mass: F = mẍ

2. Damper: F = bẋ

3. Spring: F = kx

4. Resistor: V = Ri

5. Inductor: V = Li̇
Z
1
6. Capacitor: V = idt
C
MSD:

ma = F
mẍ = u − kx − bẋ
mẍ + bẋ + kx = u

RLC:

Vin = VR + VL + VC
Z
1
= Ri + Li̇ + idt
C
let i = q̇
1
Vin = Lq̈ + Rq̇ + q
C

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ME 340 - Dynamics of Mechanical Systems [Homework 02] first name last name

Problem 2 [15 pts]

Solve the following IVPs.

1. (x + 2)y ′ − xy = 0, y(0) = 3.

2. y ′ + 3y = x, y(0) = 0.

3. y ′′′ = 0, y(0) = 3, y ′ (0) = −5, y ′′ (0) = 1.

Solution:
R x
1. The the solution is in the form of y(x) = Ae− p(x)dx
, where p(x) = − . Then we
x+2
R
x/(x+2)dx x+2−2 ln |x+2| e2 ex
have y(x) = Ae = Ae =A . Initial condition gives y(0) = 3 =
|x + 2|2
e2
A ⇒ A = 12e−2 . The solution is
4
ex
y(x) = 12 .
x2 + 4x + 4
Z !
R R
2. The general solution is y(x) = e− p(x)dx
e p(x)dx
q(x)dx + C , where p(x) = 3 and

q(x) = x. Then we have

Z !
−3x x 1
y(x) = e 3x
e xdx + C = − + Ce−3x ,
3 9

R
p(x)dx
R
3dx x 1
where e =e = e3x has been applied. Initial condition gives y(0) = 0 = − +
3 9
1
C ⇒ C = . The solution is
9
x 1 1 −3x
y(x) = − + e .
3 9 9
3. y(x) = A + Bx + Cx2 , y(0) = 3 = A, y ′ (0) = −5 = B, y ′′ (0) = 1 = 2C.
So y(x) = 3 − 5x + 21 x2 .

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ME 340 - Dynamics of Mechanical Systems [Homework 02] first name last name

Problem 3 [5 pts]
Obtain the general solution of y ′ + 2y = 3e2x + 4 sin x

Solution:
The homogeneous solution is yh = C1 ex . Substituting a particular solution
2x
yp = Ae
|{z} + B
| sin x {z
+ C cos x}
for 3e2x for 4 sin x

into the ODE gives

2Ae2x + B cos x − C sin x + 2Ae2x + 2B sin x + 2C cos x = 3e2x + 4 sin x.

 
2x 3
e : 2A + 2A = 3
 A = 4

sin x −C + 2B = 4 ⇒ B = 85
 
cos x B + 2C = 4 C = − 45
 

The general solution is

3 8 4
y(x) = yh + yp = C1 ex + e2x + sin x − cos x.
4 5 5

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ME 340 - Dynamics of Mechanical Systems [Homework 02] first name last name

Problem 4 [20 pts]

[Case study]: Newton’s law of gravitation states the attraction force F between one point mass
Mm
M and other point mass m is F = G 2 , where G is the universal gravitational constant and
d
d is the distance between two point masses. Consider the linear motion of a rocket of mass m
launching from the earth of mass M and radius R. (See Figure 1 below.)

1. Find the equation of motion of the rocket from Newton’s second law and his law of grav-
itation. (Hint: a second order equation)
2. Obtain the ODE of the velocity v. (Hint: reduce to the 1st order eq.; also we need v ′ = dv/dx.)
3. Express the rocket speed v as a function of height x when the launching velocity is V .
(Hint: solve the first order equation from question 2 with IC v(0) = V )
4. What’s the max height the rocket can reach if launched at v(0) = V ?

x
v
m
F
M

Figure 1: Launching rocket

Solution:
Mm M
1. ma = F ⇒ mẍ = −G 2
⇒ ẍ = −G
(x + R) (x + R)2
dv dx dv dv M
2. By chain rule: ẍ = v̇ = = v, we have v = −G .
dx dt dx dx (x + R)2
v2
Z Z
1 GM
3. (separable) vdv = −GM 2
dx ⇒ = + C. With launch velocity v(0) =
(x + R) r 2 x+R
2GM x
V , we have C = (V 2 /2) − GM/R, so v = V 2 − .
R x+R
V 2 R2
4. The max height is at v = 0, then we have xmax = .
2GM − V 2 R

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