PHYSICS 170 MECHANICS 1: March Exam: 6:00 PM, Friday, March 19, 2021

Please ensure that your name and student number are written clearly on the work that you
submit.
MARKS
This exam counts for a total of 25 marks towards your Final Grade for the course.
The exam consists of 2 questions, each worth 20 marks, for a total of 40 marks.
INSTRUCTIONS
Answer the questions below on fresh sheets of paper (you may also use a tablet), then upload a PDF
(only!) version of your work to Canvas. You have 80 minutes to compete the test, plus 10 minutes extra
for submission.
A Zoom session will be active during the exam period for you to use should you encounter difficulties,
have questions etc. Please use it and NOT Piazza or email to your instructors.

NUMERICAL ANSWERS
You must write numerical answers correctly to three significant figures, with correct units and using
engineering notation with an appropriate SI prefix (as necessary) to get full marks for your numerical
answers.
No marks are awarded for correctly solving incorrect equations.

RESOURCES YOU MAY CONSULT and/or USE

• Your text (hardcopy and/or digital versions).
• Your notes for the course.
• Any course notes posted to the course Canvas site by the instructors.
• Calculational aids
o Graphing and/or scientific calculator
o Calculator emulator on your computer
o Wolfram Alpha or MATLAB online
o MATLAB installed on your computer
o Other web-based calculators or computer algebra systems

RESOURCES YOU MAY NOT CONSULT and/or USE

• Any resource, online or hardcopy (including another person), that provides a partial or complete
solution to either of the problems in this test
• Any website (including search engines such as google.ca) other than those implied in the above
list of resources that you may consult and/or use (note that all of the course Canvas site is
allowed).
 PHYSICS 170 MECHANICS 1: March Exam: 6:00 PM, Friday, March 19, 2021

QUESTION 1 (20 marks)

The diagram below shows a rigid body ABED that is part of a hyperloop system. ABED consists of a
disk-shaped plate with center at E, and a rod AB. These two components of ABED are rigidly attached
to one another. ABED is supported in equilibrium by cable CD, a smooth journal bearing at B and a
smooth thrust bearing at A. Note that the bearings at A and B are different types. The bearings are in proper
alignment and only exert force reactions on the rod. The mass of the plate is 300 kg, and the
corresponding weight acts at E. The mass of the rod can be neglected. Note that ABED is not in contact
with the cylinder.
a) Draw a large, clear free-body diagram for ABED. (5 marks)
b) Determine Cartesian component force equations of equilibrium for ABED. (5 marks)
c) Determine a vector moment equation of equilibrium in determinant form for ABED. Take
moments about B. (4 marks)
d) Determine Cartesian component moment equations of equilibrium for ABED. (3 marks)
e) Determine numerical values for the Cartesian components of reaction at A and B and the tension
in the cable. (3 marks)
 PHYSICS 170 MECHANICS 1: March Exam: 6:00 PM, Friday, March 19, 2021

QUESTION 2 (20 Marks)

As shown in the figure below, a cubical block with edge length h and mass m sits on a massless inclined
plate with length L and which makes an angle θ with the horizontal. As also shown in the figure, the
block is centred on the plate so that the block’s centre is a distance L/2 along the plate (as measured
from either end of the plate). The inclined plate is supported at A by the floor, where the coefficient of
friction between the floor and the plate is µ A , and at B by the wall, where the coefficient of friction
between the wall and the plate is µ B . The coefficient of friction between the block and the inclined plate
is µC . The weight of the block acts at its centre. Assume that the plate has zero thickness, unlike what is
depicted in the figure.
Use the following values as data: L =1.00 m; h = 0.250 m; m = 1.00 kg; µ A =0.600; µ B =0.500;
µC =0.700

a) Draw a large, clear free body diagram for each of the block and the plate. Use a normal xy
coordinate system for each body; i.e. do not use a rotated coordinate system for the block.
(6 marks)
b) For each of the block and plate determine Cartesian component force equations of equilibrium
and a moment equilibrium equation. Compute moments about the center of the block, and about
point A for the plate. (7 marks)
c) List the unknowns in the combined set of equations of equilibrium for the block and the plate
and state how many impending motion equations are required to determine a solution.
(3 marks)
d) Assuming that the impending motion is sliding of the plate, write down the additional equations
that follow from that impending motion. Additionally, state what restrictions you will have to
check once a solution of the resulting system is obtained in order to verify that the block remains
in equilibrium as the plate begins to slide. (4 marks)
IMPORTANT: Do NOT solve the equations of equilibrium. You do not have to SOLVE any equations
to get full credit for this question.
NOTE: The data values (L, m, h, etc.) are given to help you identify which quantities are unknowns in
your system of equations. You can write down equations using symbols rather than data values should
you find that more convenient.