CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENT (1) 2024/MEC500

COURSE NAME : NUMERICAL METHOD

COURSE CODE : MEC500
ASSIGNMENT 1 : MAC 2023
DATELINE : WEEK 12

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES

1. Prepare your report with the details of all the tasks

2. Answer ALL questions in ENGLISH.

3. Students are required to analyze and solve the problem using numerical technique/s. Analysis must
be done clearly and shortly by applying engineering problem solving method.

Use computer computational tools (MATLAB/Excel/.etc.) to verify your result and it is

4.
COMPULSORY
5. Answers without computational approach or simulation tool will result in losing marks.

6. Read the questions properly, don’t rush, and understand it well before you start to attempt to answer
them.
7. Report must be submitted individually.

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CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENT (1) 2024/MEC500

Question 1

Background

Water vapor (H2O) is heated to sufficiently high temperatures that a significant portion of the
water dissociates, or splits apart, to form oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2):
1
𝐻𝐻2𝑂𝑂 ↔ 𝐻𝐻2 + 𝑂𝑂2
2
If it is assumed that this is the only reaction involved, the mole fraction x of H2O that
dissociates can be represented by

𝑥𝑥 2𝑝𝑝𝑡𝑡
𝐾𝐾 = √
1 − 𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑥
where K = the reaction equilibrium constant and pt = the total pressure of the mixture.

The Task

An engineering design project requires that you accurately estimate the mole fraction x of
H2O if pt = 3.5 atm and K = 0.04, determining the value of x that satisfies the equation above.

Instruction

1. Use any two numerical roots of equations method and determine the roots for the mole
fraction x of H2O.
(CO2/PO1/C3)

2. Show justification for your choice of method to solve the task above.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

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CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENT (1) 2024/MEC500

Question 2

Background

The Redlich-Kwong equation of state is given by

𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝑎𝑎
𝑝𝑝 = −
𝑣𝑣 − 𝑏𝑏 𝑣𝑣(𝑣𝑣 + 𝑏𝑏)√𝑇𝑇

where
R = the universal gas constant [= 0.518 kJ/(kg K)],
T = absolute temperature (K),
p = absolute pressure (kPa), and
v = the volume of a kg of gas (m3/kg).

The parameters a and b are calculated by

𝑅𝑅2 𝑇𝑇𝑐𝑐2.5
𝑎𝑎 = 0.427 𝑝𝑝
𝑐𝑐

𝑇𝑇𝑐𝑐
𝑏𝑏 = 0.0866𝑅𝑅 𝑝𝑝
𝑐𝑐

where pc = critical pressure (kPa) and Tc = critical temperature (K).

The Task

As a chemical engineer, you are asked to determine the amount of methane fuel (pc = 4600
kPa and Tc = 191 K) that can be held in a 3-m3 tank at a temperature of −40°C with a pressure
of 65,000 kPa.

Instruction

1. Use two root-locating method of your choice to calculate v and then determine the mass
of methane contained in the tank.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

2. Show justification for your choice of method to solve task above.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

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CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENT (1) 2024/MEC500

Question 3

Background

The volume V of liquid in a hollow horizontal cylinder of radius r and length L is related to
the depth of the liquid h by
𝑟𝑟 − ℎ
𝑉𝑉 = [𝑟𝑟2𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐−1 ( r ) − (𝑟𝑟 − ℎ)√2𝑟𝑟ℎ − ℎ2] 𝐿𝐿

The Task

Determine h given r = 2 m, L = 5 m, and V = 8 m3. Note that if you are using a programming
language or software tool that is not rich in trigonometric functions, the arc cosine can be
computed with

𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐−1𝑥𝑥 = 𝜋𝜋 − 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡−1 ( x )
2 √1 − 𝑥𝑥2

Instruction

1. Use two root-locating method of your choice to determine the depth of the liquid h.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

2. Show justification for your choice of method to solve task above.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

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CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENT (1) 2024/MEC500

Question 4

Background

The concentration of pollutant bacteria c in a lake decreases according to:

𝑐𝑐 = 75𝑒𝑒−1.5𝑡𝑡 + 20𝑒𝑒−0.075𝑡𝑡

The Task

Determine the time required for the bacteria concentration to be reduced to 15.

Instruction

1. By using any two of the numerical roots of equations method, solve the task above and
determine the time required for the bacteria concentration to be reduced to 15.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

2. Show justification for your choice of method to solve task above.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

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CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENT (1) 2024/MEC500

Question 5

Background

The displacement of a structure is defined by the following equation for a damped oscillation:

𝑦𝑦 = 9𝑒𝑒−𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐

where k = 0.7 and ω = 4.

The Task

Determine the time required for the displacement to decrease to 3.5.

Instruction

1. By using any two of the numerical roots of equations method, solve the task above and
determine the time required for the displacement to decrease to 3.5.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

2. Show justification for your choice of method to solve task above.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

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 CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENT (1) 2024/MEC500

Question 6

Background

Mechanical engineers, as well as most other engineers, use thermodynamics extensively in

their work. The following polynomial can be used to relate the zero-pressure specific heat of
dry air, cp kJ/(kg K), to temperature (K):

𝑐𝑐𝑝𝑝 = 0.99403 + 1.671 × 10−4𝑇𝑇 + 9.7215 × 10−8𝑇𝑇2 − 9.5838 × 10−11𝑇𝑇3 + 1.9520 × 10−14𝑇𝑇4

The Task

Determine the temperature that corresponds to a specific heat of 1.2 kJ / (kg K).

Instruction

1. By using any two of the numerical roots of equations method, solve the task above and
determine the temperature that corresponds to a specific heat of 1.2 kJ / (kg K).

(CO2/PO1/C3)

2. Show justification for your choice of method to solve task above.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENT (1) 2024/MEC500

Question 7

Background

Aerospace engineers sometimes compute the trajectories of projectiles like rockets. A related
problem deals with the trajectory of a thrown ball. The trajectory of a ball is defined by the
(x, y) coordinates, as displayed in Fig. P8.36. The trajectory can be modelled as
𝑔𝑔
𝑦𝑦 = (tan 𝜃𝜃0)𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥2 + 𝑦𝑦0
2𝑣𝑣02 cos2 𝜃𝜃

Given that the initial velocity v0 = 20 m/s and the distance to the catcher x is 35 m. Note that
the ball leaves the thrower’s hand at an elevation of y0 = 2 m and the catcher receives it at 1
m. Express the result in degrees. Also, use a value of 9.81 m/s2 for g.

The Task

Determine the appropriate initial angle θ0.

Instruction

1. By using any two of the numerical roots of equations method, solve the task above and
determine the appropriate initial angle θ0.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

2. Show justification for your choice of method to solve task above.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENT (1) 2024/MEC500

Question 8

Background

A reversible chemical reaction

2𝐴𝐴 + 𝐵𝐵 ↔ 𝐶𝐶

can be characterized by the equilibrium relationship

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶
𝐾𝐾 =
𝐶𝐶𝑎𝑎2 𝐶𝐶𝑏𝑏

where the nomenclature ci represents the concentration of constituent i. Suppose that we

define a variable x as representing the number of moles of C that are produced. Conservation
of mass can be used to reformulate the equilibrium relationship as

(𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐,0 + 𝑥𝑥)
𝐾𝐾 = 2
(𝑐𝑐𝑎𝑎,0 − 2𝑥𝑥) (𝑐𝑐𝑏𝑏,0 − 𝑥𝑥)

where the subscript 0 designates the initial concentration of each constituent. Given that K =
0.016, ca,0 = 42, cb,0 = 28, and cc,0 = 4,

The Task

Determine the value of x when K = 0.016.

Instruction

1. By using any two of the numerical roots of equations method, solve the task above and
determine the value of x.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

2. Show justification for your choice of method to solve task above.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENT (1) 2024/MEC500

Question 9

Background

A total charge Q is uniformly distributed around a ring-shaped conductor with radius a. A

charge q is located at a distance x from the center of the ring (Fig. P8.31). The force exerted
on the charge by the ring is given by
1 𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑥𝑥
𝐹𝐹 =
4𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋0 (𝑥𝑥2 + 𝑎𝑎2)3/2

where e0 = 8.85 × 10−12 C2/(Nm2) and the force is 1 N if q and Q are 2 × 10−5 C for a ring
with a radius of 0.9 m.

The Task

Determine the distance x.

Instruction

1. By using any two of the numerical roots of equations method, solve the task above and
determine the distance x.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

2. Show justification for your choice of method to solve task above.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENT (1) 2024/MEC500

Question 10

Background

Real mechanical systems may involve the deflection of nonlinear springs. In Figure 1, a mass
m is released a distance h above a nonlinear spring. The resistance force F of the spring is
given by
𝐹𝐹 = −(𝑘𝑘1𝑑𝑑 + 𝑘𝑘2𝑑𝑑3/2)

Conservation of energy can be used to show that

5
2𝑘𝑘2 𝑑𝑑 2 1
0= + 𝑘𝑘 𝑑𝑑2 − 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 − 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚ℎ
5 2 1
Solve for d, given the following parameter values: k1 = 40,000 g/s2, k2 = 40 g/(s2 m0.5), m = 95
g, g = 9.81 m/s2, and h = 0.43 m.

Figure 1

The Task

Determine the value d for the problem above.

Instruction

1. By using any two of the numerical roots of equations method, solve the task above and
determine the value d.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

2. Show justification for your choice of method to solve task above.

(CO2/PO1/C3)

© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL