The Copperbelt University

School of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Department

2017/2018 SESSIONAL EXAM

Course Name Dynamics & Control Engineering

Course Code EM 551
Date 01/08/2018
Allocated Time 3Hours
Total Marks 60
Lecturer’s Contact 097 231 1615

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:

1. This is a closed book examination

2. Before you start answering, read all the questions carefully
3. Answer ANY FIVE (5) questions of your choice
4. Each question carries 12 marks
5. Clearly show all your assumptions, workings and analysis
6. Give your final answers to 2 decimal places, if necessary

Page 1 of 6
QUESTION 1: [12 Marks]
a) A 0.5 kg ball of negligible size is fired up a vertical track of radius 1.5 m using a spring plunger
with K = 500N/m as shown in Figure 1. The plunger keeps the spring compressed 0.08m
when s = 0. Find the distance s the plunger must be pulled back and released so that the ball
will begin to leave the track when 𝜃 = 135°.
[6]

Figure 1

b) The 800 kg roller coaster car in Figure 2 is released from rest at A. Find:
i) The minimum height, h, of point A so that the car travels around inside loop at B
without leaving the track. [4]
ii) The velocity of the car at C for this height, h, of A. [2]

Figure 2

Page 2 of 6
QUESTION 2: [12 Marks]

A particle of mass 𝑚 in Figure 3 is displaced slightly from its equilibrium position at the top of a
smooth fixed sphere of radius 𝑟, and it slides downward due to gravity.
i) Solve for its velocity as a function of position. [5]
ii) Solve for the angle 𝜽 at which it loses contact with the sphere. [7]

Figure 3

QUESTION 3: [12 Marks]

Ten identical spheres are arranged in a straight line with a small space between adjacent spheres.
The spheres are motionless until sphere 1 is given an impulse causing it to move with velocity 𝑣0
towards sphere 2. The spheres collide in sequence with a coefficient of restitution 𝑒 = 0.9.
a) What is the final velocity of sphere 10? [8]
b) What is the velocity of sphere 9 after its second collision? [4]

QUESTION 4: [12 Marks]

Figure 4 shows a simple pendulum consisting of a string of length 𝑟 and a bob of mass 𝑚 that is
attached to a support of mass 𝑀. The support moves without friction on the horizontal plane.
Derive the equations of motion.

Figure 4

Page 3 of 6
QUESTION 5: [12 Marks]

a) Figure 5 shows a spring-mass-damper system subjected to a force 𝐹(𝑡) = 𝐹0 cos(𝜔𝑡). Using

Lagrange method, derive the equation(s) of motion for the system.
[4]

Figure 5

b) An elastic pendulum shown in Figure 6 has a spring of stiffness 𝑘 and is subjected to a non-
conservative force 𝐹(𝑡) which is acting on the centre of mass of the ball in the horizontal
direction. Using the length 𝑙 and the angle 𝜃 as generalized coordinates, derive the equations
of motion.
[8]

Figure 6

Page 4 of 6
QUESTION 6: [12 Marks]

a) A mass 𝒎 (kg) attached to a spring is subjected to a harmonic force as shown in Figure 7. The
amplitude of the forced motion is observed to be 50𝑚𝑚. Find the mass 𝒎.
[5]

Figure 7

b) The instrument shown in Figure 8 is rigidly attached to a platform P, which in turn is supported
by four springs, each having a stiffness 𝑘 = 800 𝑁/𝑚. The instrument and platform have a
total mass of 20 kg. If the floor is subjected to a vertical displacement 𝛿 = 10 𝑠𝑖𝑛(8𝑡) 𝑚𝑚,
where 𝑡 is in seconds.
i) Determine the amplitude of steady-state vibration [5]
ii) What is the frequency of the floor vibration required to cause resonance? [2]

Figure 8

Page 5 of 6
QUESTION 7: [12 Marks]

a) The 30 𝑘𝑔 electric motor shown in Figure 9 is supported by four springs, each spring having
a stiffness of 200 𝑁/𝑚. If the rotor is unbalanced such that its effect is equivalent to a
4 𝑘𝑔 mass located 60 mm from the axis of rotation, determine the following, given that the
damping factor is 𝜀 = 0.15:
i) Amplitude of vibration when the rotor is turning at 𝜔0 = 10 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠. [6]
ii) Phase difference between the applied force and the resulting steady-state vibration of the
damped system. [2]

Figure 9

b) The equation 𝒎𝒙̈ + 𝒌𝒙 = 𝑭𝟎 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝝎𝒕 represents a spring-mass system. If the mass is initially
at rest, find the complete solution of this system, given that 𝑥0 = 0 and 𝑥̇ 0 = 0.
[4]

*** The End***

**** Best Wishes and Happy Holidays * * * *

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