DYNAMICS

Pierre Julien

The problems have been sub-divided into three groups for each mid-term (A
and B) and the final is comprehensive. Problems with ♦ are considered
moderate to difficult and ♦♦ are perhaps the most difficult.

Successful problem solving involves the following steps:

1) read the question and retrieve all relevant information
2) draw sketches and free body diagrams
3) identify the governing equation
4) mathematically solve the problem
5) find the answer(s) and double-check when possible

PROBLEMS A

Introduction
1. The weight of one dozen apples is 5 lb.
Determine the average weight and mass of one
apple in both SI and U.S. units. Is it true that
an average apple weighs 1 N?
Ans. m = 0.1888 kg, m = 0.01294 slugs, W = 1.853 N

2. In the equation

T = ½ l ω2 ,

the term l is the mass moment of inertia in kg-m2 and ω is the angular
velocity in s –1.
(a) What are the SI units of T?
(b) If the value of T is 200 when l is in kg-m2 and ω is in s–1, what
is the value of T when it is expressed in terms of U.S.
Customary base units?

3. A pressure transducer measures a value of 200 lb/in2. Determine the

value of the pressure in pascals. A pascal (Pa) is one Newton per
meter squared.

1
KINEMATICS OF PARTICLES

Rectilinear Coordinates
4. ♦ The velocity of an object in m/s is v = 200 – 2 t2 . When t = 3 s, its
position is s = 600 m.
Determine the position and acceleration of the object at t = 6 s?

5. The acceleration of a point in m/s2 is a = 20t. When t = 0, s = 40 m

and v = -10 m/s.
What are the position and velocity at t = 3 s?

6. ♦♦ The acceleration of an object in ft/s2 is given by the function a =

2s. When t = 0, v = 1 ft/s.
Find the velocity when the object has moved 2 ft from its initial
position?

7. ♦ A projectile is fired vertically with an initial velocity of 200 m/s.

Calculate the maximum altitude h reached by the projectile and the
time t after firing for it to return to the ground. Neglect air resistance
and assume a constant gravitational acceleration at 9.81 m/s2.
Ans. h = 2040 m, t = 40.8 s

8. ♦♦ During takeoff an airplane starts from rest

and accelerates according to a = a0 – kv2,
where a0 is the constant acceleration resulting
from the engine thrust and – kv2 is the
acceleration due to aerodynamic drag. If a0 = 2
m/s2, k = 0.00004 m –1, and v is in meters per
second, determine the design length of runway
required to reach the takeoff speed of 250 km/h
if the drag term is (a) excluded and (b)
included.
Ans. (a) s = 1206 m, (b) s = 1269 m
Repeat the problem when k is twice as large.

2
Curvilinear Coordinates
9. ♦ An outfielder experiments with two different
trajectories for throwing to home plate from the
position shown: (a) v0 = 140 ft/sec with θ = 8°
and (b) v0 = 120 ft/sec with θ = 12°. For each
set of initial conditions, determine the time t
required for the baseball to reach home plate
and the altitude h as the ball crosses the plate.
Ans. (a) t = 1.443 sec, h = 2.10 ft
(b) t = 1.704 sec, h = 3.27 ft

10. ♦ A 7 ft tall basketball player likes to release

his shots at an angle θ = 60° to the horizontal.
The basket is 10’ high and he is positioned 13ft
and 9 inches from the basket. What initial
speed v0 will cause the ball to pass through the
center of the rim? Does the ball clear the 10 ft
high fingertip of a defensive player located 3 ft
in front of the ball?

11. ♦ A jumper approaches his takeoff board A

with a horizontal velocity of 30 ft/sec.
Determine the vertical component vy of the
velocity of his center of gravity at takeoff for
him to make the jump shown. What is the
vertical rise h of his center of gravity?
Ans. vy = 11.81 ft/sec, h = 2.16 ft
What would be the jumping length if the
vertical velocity increases by 10% and the
horizontal velocity decreases by 10%.

12. ♦♦ A football player attempts a 30-yd field

goal. If he is able to impart a velocity u of 100
ft/sec to the ball, compute the minimum angle θ
for which the ball will clear the crossbar of the
goal. (Hint: Let m = tan θ.)
Ans. θ = 14.91°
Can you also define the maximum angle?

3
Normal Coordinates
13. ♦ For the baseball problem sketched below
determine the radius of curvature ρ of the path
and the time rate of change v& of the speed at
times t = 1 sec and t = 2.5 sec, where t = 0 is
the time of release from the player’s hand.
Ans. ρ = 248 ft, v& = -6.48 ft/sec2
ρ = 278 ft, v& = 10.70 ft/sec2

14. ♦ A spacecraft S is orbiting Jupiter in a circular

path 1000 km above the surface with a constant
speed. Using the gravitation law, calculate the
magnitude v of its orbital velocity with respect
to Jupiter. The diameter of Jupiter is 142,984
km and its surface-level gravitational
acceleration is 24.85 m/s2.
Ans. v = 41,900 m/s

15. ♦ A minivan starts from rest on the road whose

constant radius of curvature is 40 m and whose
bank angle is 10°. The motion occurs in a
horizontal plane. If the constant forward
acceleration of the minivan is 1.8 m/s2,
determine the magnitude a of its total
acceleration 5 s after starting.
Ans. a = 2.71 m/s2
Is the acceleration twice as large at a time
t =10s?

4
Polar Coordinates

16. ♦ A jet flying at a constant speed v at an

altitude h = 10 km is being tracked by radar
located at O directly below the line of flight. If
the angle θ is decreasing at the rate of 0.020
rad/s when θ = 60°, determine the value of &r& at
this instant and the magnitude of the velocity v
of the plane.
Ans. &r& = 4.62 m/s2, v = 960 km/h

17. ♦ The rocket is fired vertically and tracked by

the radar shown. When θ reaches 60°, other
corresponding measurements give the values r
= 30,000 ft, &r& = 70 ft/sec2, and θ& = 0.02
rad/sec. Calculate the magnitudes of the
velocity and acceleration of the rocket at this
position.
Ans. v = 1200 ft/sec, a = 67.0 ft/sec2
Repeat this problem at θ = 70°.

18. ♦ An earth satellite traveling in the elliptical

orbit shown has a velocity v = 12,149 mi/hr as
it passes the end of the semi minor axis at A.
The acceleration of the satellite at A is due to
gravitational attraction and is
32.23[3959/8400]2 = 7.159 ft/sec2 directed
from A to O. For position A calculate the
values of r, r , θ& , and θ&& .
& &&
Ans. r& = 8910 ft/sec
&r& = -1.790 ft/sec2
θ& = 3.48(10-4) rad/sec
θ&& = -1.398(10-7) rad/sec2
Determine the gravitational acceleration and
repeat the calculations at point B.

5
Relative Motion
19. ♦ A sailboat is moving in the N-E direction
against a north wind. The log registers a hull
speed of 6.5 knots. A “telltale” (light string
tied to the rigging) indicates that the direction
of the apparent wind is 35° from the centerline
of the boat. What is the true wind velocity vw?
Ans. vw = 14.40 knots
How long does it take the boat to travel a
distance of 10 km?

20. ♦♦ To increase his speed, the water skier A cuts

across the wake of the tow boat B, which has a
velocity of 60 km/h. At the instant when θ =
30°, the actual path of the skier makes an angle
β = 50° with the tow rope. For this position
determine the velocity vA of the skier and the
value of θ& .
Ans. vA = 80.8 km/h, θ& =0.887 rad/s

21. ♦ The car A has a forward speed of 18 km/h and

is accelerating a 3 m/s2. Determine the velocity
and acceleration of the car relative to observer
B, who rides in a nonrotating chair on the ferris
wheel. The angular velocity of the ferris wheel
is constant at Ω = 3 rev/min.
Ans. vA/B = 3.00i + 2.00j m/s
aA/B = 3.63i + 0.628j m/s2

6
Constrained Motion
22. At a certain instant, cylinder A has a downward
velocity of 0.8 m/s and an upward acceleration
of 2 m/s2. Determine the corresponding
velocity and acceleration of cylinder B.
Ans. vB = 1.2 m/s up
aB = 3 m/s2 down

23. For the pulley system shown, each of the cables

at A and B is given a velocity of 2 m/s in the
direction of the arrow. Determine the upward
velocity v of the load m.
Ans. v = 1.5 m/s
If vB = 2 m/s, determine vA such that the mass
m does not move.

24. ♦ Cylinder B has a downward velocity of 2

ft/sec and an upward acceleration of 0.5 ft/sec2.
Calculate the velocity and acceleration of block
A.
Ans. vA = 3 ft/sec up, aA = 0.75 ft/sec2 down

7
DYNAMICS
Pierre Julien

PROBLEMS B

KINETICS OF PARTICLES

Rectilinear Motion
1. If the 15,000-lb helicopter starts from rest and
its rotor exerts a constant 20,000-lb vertical
force, how high does it rise in 5 s?

2. ♦ Neglect all friction and the mass of the

pulleys and determine the accelerations of
bodies A and B upon release from rest.
Ans. aA = 1.024 m/s2 down the incline
aB = 0.682 m/ s2 up

3. ♦ Compute the acceleration of block A for the

instant depicted. The dynamic friction is
µk = 0.40. Neglect the mass of the pulley. µs = 0.50
Ans. a = 1.406 m/s2 µk= 0.40
What is the minimal tension in the cable to
initiate motion?

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Curvilinear Motion
4. ♦ An airplane of weight W = 200,000 lb makes
a turn at constant altitude and at constant
velocity v=630 ft/s. The bank angle is 15°.
(a) Determine the lift force L.
(b) What is the radius of curvature of
the plane’s path?

5. ♦♦ The small object of mass m is placed on the

rotating conical surface at the radius shown. If
the coefficient of static friction between the
object and the rotating surface is 0.8, calculate
the maximum angular velocity ω of the cone
about the vertical axis for which the object will
not slip. Assume very gradual changes in
angular velocity.
Ans. ω = 2.73 rad/s
Does the critical velocity increase linearly with
the friction coefficient?

Work-Energy
6. ♦ The car is moving with a speed vo = 65 mi/hr
up the 6-percent grade and the driver applies
the brakes at point A, causing all wheels to
skid. The coefficient of kinetic friction on the
wet pavement µk = 0.6. Determine the stopping
distance sAB. Repeat your calculations for the
case when the car is moving downhill from B
to A.
Ans. sAB = 214 ft, sBA = 262 ft

7. The force P = 40 N is applied to the system,

which is initially at rest. Determine the speeds
of A and B after A has moved 0.4 m.
Ans. vA = 1.180 m/s, vB = 2.36 m/s

2
8. ♦ If the system is released from rest, determine
the speed of both masses after B moved 1 m.
Neglect friction and the masses of the pulleys.
Ans. vA = 0.616 m/s, vB = 0.924 m/s

9. The 30-Mg aircraft is climbing at the angle θ

=15° under a jet thrust T of 180 kN. At the
instant shown, its speed is 300 km/h and is
increasing at the rate of 1.96 m/s2 . Also θ is
decreasing as the aircraft begins to level off. If
the radius of curvature of the path at this instant
is 20 km, compute the lift L and drag D. (Lift L
and drag D are the aerodynamic forces normal
to and opposite to the flight direction,
respectively.)
Ans. D = 45.0 kN, L = 274 kN

10. ♦ The spring has an unstretched length of 0.4 m

and a stiffness of 200 N/m. The 3-kg slider and
attached spring are released from rest at A and
move in the vertical plane. Calculate the
velocity v of the slider as it reaches B in the
absence of friction.
Ans. v = 1.537 m/s
Determine the value of the friction coefficient
that would bring the slider to a halt at point B.

3
Linear Momentum
11. A boat is going 50 mi/hr when its motor is
suddenly turned off. Its velocity decreases to
20 mi/hr within 5 s. The boat and its
passengers weigh 1800 lb. Determine the
magnitude of the average force exerted on the
boat by hydrodynamic and aerodynamic drag
during the 5 s.

12. ♦ The two weights are released from rest.

Apply the principle of impulse and momentum
to each weight individually. What is the
magnitude of their velocity after one second?

Impact
13. ♦ Freight car A with a gross weight of 150,000
lb is moving along the horizontal track in a
switching yard at 2 mi/hr. Freight car B with a
gross weight of 120,000 lb and moving a 3
mi/hr overtakes car A and is coupled to it.
Determine (a) the common velocity v of the
two cars as they more together after being
coupled and (b) the loss of energy ∆ E due to
the impact.
Ans. (a) v = 2.44 mi/hr, (b) ∆ E = 2230 ft-lb

4
14. ♦ The hockey puck with a mass of 0.20 kg has
a velocity of 12 m/s before being struck by the
hockey stick. After the impact the puck moves
in the new direction shown with a velocity of
18 m/s. If the stick is in contact with the puck
for 0.4 s, compute the magnitude of the average
force F exerted by the stick on the puck during
contact, and find the angle β made by F with
the x-direction.
Ans. F = 147.8 N, β = 12.02°
Repeat this problem if the impact duration is
0.1 s.

15. ♦ The 1.62-oz golf ball is struck by the five-

iron and acquires the velocity shown in a time
period of 0.001 sec. Determine the magnitude
R of the average force exerted by the club on
the ball. What acceleration magnitude a does
this force cause and what is the distance d over
which the launch velocity is achieved,
assuming constant acceleration?
Ans. R = 472 lb, a = 150,000 ft/sec2, d = 0.9 in

16. ♦♦ A boy weighing 100 lb runs and jumps on

his 20-lb sled with a horizontal velocity of 15
ft/sec. If the sled and boy coast 10 ft on the
level snow before coming to rest, compute the
coefficient of kinetic friction µk between the
snow and the runners of the sled. Starting from
rest, what is the minimum slope for the sled to
remain in place without sliding?

5
 17. ♦♦ A tennis player strikes the tennis ball with
her racket while the ball is still rising. The ball
speed before impact with the racket is v1 = 15
m/s and after impact its speed is v2 = 22 m/s,
with directions as shown in the figure. If the
60-g ball is in contact with the racket for 0.05 s,
determine the magnitude of the average force R
exerted by the racket on the ball. Find the
angle β made by R with the horizontal.
Comment on the treatment of the ball weight
during impact.
Ans. R = 43.0 N, β = 8.68°

Angular Momentum

18. A satellite is in elliptic orbit around the earth.

Its velocity at the perigee A is 28,280 ft/s.
What is its velocity at the apogee C.

19. ♦ The small sphere of mass m traveling with

speed v strikes and becomes attached to the end
of the stationary assembly that pivots freely
about a vertical axis at O. Determine the
angular velocity ω of the assembly after impact
and calculate the change ∆E in the system
energy. Neglect the mass of the rod compared
with m. Also neglect any friction.
Ans. ω = v/2L, ∆E = -1/4 mv2

6
 20. ♦ The assembly starts from rest and reaches an
angular speed of 150 rev/min under the action
of a 20-N force T applied to the string for t
seconds. Determine t. Neglect friction and all
masses except those of the four 3-kg spheres,
which may be treated as particles.
Ans. t = 15.08 s

Mass Flow
21. ♦ A nozzle ejects a stream of water horizontally
at 40 mi hr with a mass flow rate of 30 m3/s,
and the stream is deflected in the horizontal
plane by a plate. Determine the force exerted
on the plate by the stream in cases (a), (b) and
(c).

22. ♦ The jet ski has reached its maximum velocity

of 70 km/h when operating in salt water at a
mass density ρ=1030 kg/m3. The water intake
is in the horizontal tunnel in the bottom of the
hull, so the water enters the intake at the
velocity of 70 km/h relative to the ski. The
motorized pump discharges water from the
horizontal exhaust nozzle of 50-mm diameter at
the rate of 0.082 m3/s. Calculate the resistance
R of the water to the hull at the operating speed.
Ans. R = 1,885 N

7
DYNAMICS
Pierre Julien

PROBLEMS C

RIGID BODY KINEMATICS

1. ♦ The two V-belt pulleys form an integral unit
and rotate about the fixed axis at O. At a
certain instant, point A on the belt of the
smaller pulley has a velocity vA = 1.5 m/s, and
point B on the belt of the larger pulley has an
acceleration aB = 45 m/s2 as shown. For this
instant determine the magnitude of the
acceleration aC of point C and sketch the vector
in your solution. Also calculate the
acceleration of A.

2. ♦ The two attached pulleys are driven by the

belt with increasing speed. When the belt
reaches a speed v = 2 ft/sec, the total
acceleration of point P is 26 ft/sec2. For this
instant determine the angular acceleration α of
the pulleys and the acceleration of point B on
the belt.
Ans. α = 15 rad/sec2, aB = 5 ft/sec2

Absolute Motion

3. ♦♦ The wheel of radius r rolls without slipping

and its center O has a constant velocity vO to
the right. Determine expressions for the
velocity v and acceleration a of point A on the
rim by differentiating its x- and y-coordinates.
Represent your result graphically as vectors on
your sketch and show v is the vector sum of
two vO vectors.
v2
Ans. v = vO 2( 1 + sinθ ),a = O toward O
r

1
Relative Velocity
4. ♦ The flywheel turns clockwise with a constant
speed of 600 rev/min. the connecting link AB
slides through the pivoted collar at C.
Calculate the angular velocity ω of AB for the
instant when θ = 60°.
Ans. ω = 17.95 rad/sec CW

5. ♦ The rider of the bicycle shown pumps

steadily to maintain a constant speed of 16
km/h against a slight head wind. Calculate the
maximum and minimum magnitudes of the
absolute velocity of the pedal at a radius 160
mm from the pedal axle. The diameter of the
wheel is 660 mm, the rear sprocket wheel 70
mm and the pedal sprocket wheel 170 mm.
The radius of the pedal is 160 mm.
Ans. (vA) max = 5.33 m/s
(vA) min = 3.56 m/s

6. ♦ For an interval of its motion the piston rod of

the hydraulic cylinder has a velocity vA = 4
ft/sec as shown. At a certain instant θ = β =
60°, determine the angular velocity ωBC of
link BC.

2
Relative Acceleration

7. ♦ If the cyclist starts from rest and acquires a

velocity of 2 m/s in a distance of 3 m with
constant acceleration, compute the magnitude
of the acceleration of pedal for this condition if
it is in the top position.
r
Ans. a p = 1.28 m/s2

8. ♦♦ The elements of a power hacksaw are shown

in the figure. The saw blade is mounted in a
frame which slides along the horizontal guide.
If the motor turns the flywheel at a constant
counterclockwise speed of 60 rev/min,
determine the acceleration of the blade for the
position where θ = 90°, and find the
corresponding angular acceleration of the link
AB.
Ans. aA = 4.89 m/s2 , aAB = 0.467 rad/s2 CCW
As an exam question, could you solve this for
θ = 0?

9. ♦♦ For the instant when θ = β = 60°, the

hydraulic cylinder gives A a velocity vA = 4
ft/sec which is increasing by 3 ft/sec each
second. For this instant determine the angular
acceleration of link BC.
Ans. αBC = 2.08 rad/sec2 CCW
Can you also find ωBC?

3
Rigid Body Kinetics
10. The moment of inertia of the pulley is 0.4 slug-
ft2. Determine the pulley’s angular acceleration
and the tension in the cable of the two cases.
Ans. αA = 25 rad/s2
αB = 18 rad/s2
Can you explain why the answers are different?

11. ♦♦ Here is a drumstick problem. For what

value of x is the horizontal bar’s angular
acceleration a maximum, and what is the
maximum angular acceleration?
Ans. x = L/ 12
12 gx
α= 2
L + 12 x 2

4
Moment of Inertia
12. ♦ The homogeneous, slender bar has mass m
and length l. Use integration to determine the
moment of inertia of the bar about the axis L.
ml 2
Ans. IL = sin 2 θ
12

13. ♦ The homogeneous, thin plate is of uniform

thickness and mass m. Determine its moments
of inertia about the x, y and z axes.
mb 2
Ans. Iy =
12
Iz =
( )
m b2 + h2
12

5
General Motion
14. ♦ A thin ring and a circular disk, each of mass
m and radius R, are released from rest on an
inclined surface and allowed to roll a distance
D. Determine the angular accelerations for
both cases, and the ratio of the times required.
g sin θ
Ans. αa =
2r
t 3
tr = b =
ta 4

15. Each of the two drums and connected hubs of

8-in. radius weighs 200 lb and has a radius of
gyration about its center of 15 in. Calculate the
angular acceleration of each drum. Friction in
each bearing is negligible.
Ans. aa = 1.976 rad/sec2, ab = 2.06 rad/sec2
What are the mass moments of inertia?

16. ♦ The uniform 16.1-lb slender bar is hinged

about a horizontal axis through O and released
from rest in the horizontal position. Determine
the distance b from the mass center to O which
will result in an initial angular acceleration of
16.1 rad/sec2, and find the force R on the bar at
O just after release.
Ans. b = 2.20 in., R = 14.62 lb

17. ♦♦ The uniform slender bar rests on a smooth

horizontal surface when a force F is applied
normal to the bar at point A. Point A is
observed to have an initial acceleration aA of 20
m/s2, and the bar has a corresponding angular
acceleration a of 18 rad/s2. Determine the
distance b.
Ans. b = 0.553 m

6
 18. A long cable length L and mass ρ per unit
length is wrapped around the periphery of a
spool of negligible mass. One end of the cable
is fixed and the spool is released from rest in
the position shown. Find the initial
acceleration a of the center of the spool.
Ans. a = g/2
Can you explain why the acceleration is less
than g?

Work Energy
19. ♦ The moment of inertia of the pulley is 0.4
slug-ft2. The pulley starts from rest. For both
cases, use the principle of work and energy to
determine the pulley’s angular velocity when it
has turned 1 revolution.
Ans. ωa = 17.7 rad/s
ωb = 15 rad/s

20. ♦ The 100-kg homogeneous cylindrical disk is

at rest when the force F = 500 N is applied to a
cord wrapped around it, causing the disk to roll.
Use the principle of work and energy to
determine the disk’s angular velocity when it
has turned 1 revolution. Notice here that when
the drum completes one revolution, point A
will move 4 π r to the right!
Ans. ω = 16.7 rad/s

7
VIBRATIONS

Free Vibrations
21. When a 3-kg collar is placed upon the pan
which is attached to the spring of unknown
constant, the additional static deflection of the
pan is observed to be 42 mm. Determine the
spring constant k in N/m, lb/in., and lb/ft.
Ans. k = 701 N/m, k = 4.00 lb/in.
and k = 48.0 lb/ft

22. ♦ If the spring constant is k = 30 lb/ft and the

moment of inertia of the pulley is negligible,
what is the frequency of vertical vibrations of
the weights relative to their equilibrium
positions?
Ans. ωn = 4 rad/s
2
f=
πs
As a review problem, can you also calculate the
maximum vertical displacement, the maximum
velocity and the maximum tension in the
spring?

23. ♦ Calculate the natural circular frequency ωn of

the system shown in the figure. The mass and
friction of the pulleys are negligible.
Ans. ωn = k / 5m

8
 24. Calculate the natural frequency ωn of the
system shown in the figure. The mass and
friction of the pulleys are negligible.
Ans. ωn = 4k / 5m

Damped Vibrations
25. ♦ The damping constant of the damped spring-
mass oscillator is c=20 N-s/m. What are the
period and natural frequency of the system?
Compare them to the period and natural
frequency when the system is undamped.
Ans. fd = 0.45/s
τd = 2.22 s

Forced Vibrations
26. ♦ The 64.4-lb cart is acted upon by the
harmonic force shown in the figure. If c = 0,
determine the range of the driving frequency ω
for which the amplitude of the steady-state
response is less than 3.5 in.
Ans. ω < 5.24 rad/sec or ω > 6.68 rad/sec

9
These last two problems are optional.

27. ♦♦ The seismic instrument is mounted on a

structure which as a vertical vibration with a
frequency of 5 Hz and a double amplitude of 18
mm. The sensing element has a mass m = 2 kg,
and the spring stiffness if k = 1.5 kN/m. The
motion of the mass relative to the instrument
base is recorded on a revolving drum and
shows a double amplitude of 24 mm during the
steady-state condition. Calculate the viscous
damping constant c.
Ans. c = 44.6 N·s/m

28. ♦ Determine the amplitude of vertical vibration

of the spring-mounted trailer as it travels at a
velocity of 25 km/h over a bumpy road whose
surface may be expressed by a sine or cosine
term. The mass of the trailer is 500 kg and that
of the wheels alone may be neglected. During
the loading each 75 kg added to the load caused
the trailer to sag 3 mm on its springs. Assume
that the wheels are in contact with the road at
all times and neglect damping. At what critical
speed vc is the vibration of the trailer greatest?
Ans. X = 14.75 mm, vc = 15.23 km/h

10