UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

ASSIGNMENT

COURSE : NUMERICAL METHODS WITH APPLICATIONS

COURSE CODE : MEC500
DEADLINE :
MODE :

GROUP NO DUE DATE SUBMISSION DATE REMARKS

LECTURER NAME

No Name Student ID
1

Level Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor Very Poor

Guidelines
Scale
Scale 5 4 3 2 1

Weight Scale Total

CO / PO Assessment Criteria (Report)
(w) (y) (w * y)

CO2/PO1/C3 Defining problems and objectives 0.2

CO2/PO1/C3 Solve the task using method A 0.9

CO4/PO5/P4 Display computer computational approach 1.0

CO2/PO1/C3 Solve the task using method B 0.9

CO4/PO5/P4 Display computer computational approach 1.0

Discussion 3.0

TOTAL 2 0%

REMARKS:
 1

*To be print out and submitted to lecturer

 UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
ASSIGNMENT

COURSE : NUMERICAL METHODS WITH APPLICATIONS

COURSE CODE : MEC500
DEADLINE :
MODE :

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES

1. Answer ALL questions in ENGLISH

2. Use the provided format for the cover page of the assignment.

Students are required to analyze and solve the problem using numerical technique/s. Analysis
3.
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.

Read the questions properly, don’t rush, understand it well before you start to attempt to answer
6.
them. Do not hesitate to see the lecturer for guidance.

This assignment is designed for Course Outcome 2 (CO2) and 4 (CO4) of the course:

CO2: Apply various numerical techniques in solving engineering problems [PO1] {C3}.
PO1: Able to Apply knowledge of mathematics, natural science, engineering fundamentals and an
engineering specialization as specified in WK1 to WK4 respectively to the solution of complex
7. engineering problems.

CO4: Construct computational approach to solve mathematical problems [PO5] {P4}.

PO5: Able to Create, select and apply appropriate techniques, resources, and modern engineering
and IT tools, including prediction and modelling, to complex engineering problems, with an
understanding of the limitations (WK6).
 QUESTION 1
BACKGROUND

As shown in figure (a) below, a scoreboard is suspended above a sports arena by two cables, pinned at A,
B, and C. The cables are initially horizontal and of length L. After the scoreboard is hung, a free-body
diagram at node B can be developed as shown in figure (b). A vertical force balance at B can be written
as

2 A c Ed L
L ( )
1− 2 2 −W =0
√ L +d

THE TASK

Assuming that the weight of each cable is negligible, determine the deflection, d (m), that results if the
scoreboard weighs W = 9000 N, where F = the axial force (N), Ac = the cable’s cross-sectional area (m2),
and E = the modulus of elasticity (N/m2). Use the following parameters for your calculations: L = 45 m,
Ac = 6.362 × 10–4 m2, and E = 1.5 × 1011 N/m2.

ITEM
Problem(s) & Objective(s):

(1.0)

SOLUTION 1

ITEM
Possible Solution:

(0.5)
Step by Step Solution:

(3.0)
Findings / Conclusion:

(1.0)
(CO2/PO1/C3)

Matlab / Excel Application:

 (5)
(CO4/PO5/P4)
SOLUTION 2

ITEM
Possible Solution:

(0.5)
Step by Step Solution:

(3.0)
Findings / Conclusion:
 (1.0)
(CO2/PO1/C3)

Matlab / Excel Application:

(5)
(CO4/PO5/P4)
Discussion

(6)

1
 A vertical force balance at B can be written as

2 A c Ed L
L ( )
1− 2 2 −W =0
√ L +d

Therefore, the problem reduces to finding the root.

2 Ac Ed L
f ( d )=
L ( )
1− 2 2 −W =0
√ L +d

The value of the deflection is 2.0494 ± 2% m.

QUESTION 2
BACKGROUND
In a free-falling bungee jumper, for objects falling through fluids at very low speeds, the flow regime
around the object will be laminar and the relationship between the drag force and velocity is linear. In
addition, in such cases, the buoyancy force must also be included. For such cases, a force balance can be
written as
dv ρ c
=g− f g− d v
dt ρs m
Force = (gravity) - (buoyancy) - (drag)

where v = velocity (m/s), t = time (s), m = the mass of the particle (kg), g = acceleration due to gravity (=
9.81 m/s2), ρf = fluid density (kg/m3), V = particle volume (m3), and cd = the linear drag coefficient
(kg/m). Note that the mass of the particle, m = Vρs, where ρs = the density of the particle (kg/m 3). For a
small sphere, Stokes developed the following formula for the drag coefficient, cd = 6πμr, where μ = the
fluid’s dynamic viscosity (N s/m2) and r = the sphere’s radius (m). The particle volume, V is equal to
4/3*µ*r3.

THE TASK

The figure above shows a sphere settling in a cylinder filled with viscous honey. Estimate the viscosity
of honey based on the following parameter values: ρf = 1420 kg/m3, ρs = 7850 kg/m3, r = 0.02 m, L = 0.5
m, and t(x = 0.5) = 3.6 s, given the displacement can be gathered using:

cd
ρ ρ −( ) t
x=
mg
cd ( ) m2 g
( )(
1− f t− 2 1− f 1−e m
ρs cd ρs
)

ITEM
Problem(s) & Objective(s):

(1.0)

SOLUTION 1

ITEM
Possible Solution:
 (0.5)
Step by Step Solution:

(3.0)
Findings / Conclusion:

(1.0)
(CO2/PO1/C3)

Matlab / Excel Application:

 (5)
(CO4/PO5/P4)
SOLUTION 2

ITEM
Possible Solution:

(0.5)
Step by Step Solution:

(3.0)
Findings / Conclusion:
 (1.0)
(CO2/PO1/C3)

Matlab / Excel Application:

(5)
(CO4/PO5/P4)