ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND ALLIED SUBJECTS (ESAS)

 
PROBLEM SOLVING AND SOLUTIONS
1. A 10 grams block slides with a velocity of 20 cm/s on a smooth level surface and
makes a collision with a 30 grams block moving in the opposite direction with a
velocity of 10 cm/s. If the collision is perfectly elastic, what is the velocity of the
30 gram block after the collision?.

A. 5 cm/s
B. 10 cm/s
C. 15 cm/s
D. 25 cm/s

SOLUTION: 

Formula is: Initial momentum = Final Momentum

Therefore: m1V1 + m2+V2 = m1V1' + m2V2'
Given:
m1 = 10 grams
V1 = 20 cm/s
m2 = 30 grams
V2 = 10 cm/s

m1V1 + m2+V2 = m1V1' + m2V2'

10(20) + 30(-10) = 10(-V1') + 30V2'
- 100 = -10V1' + 30V2' Equation 1

Note: For a perfectly elastic collision, coefficient of restitution (e) is equal to 1.

V2' + V1'
e = = 1
V1 - V2

V1 - V2 = V2' - V1'
20 - (-10) = V2' - (-V1')
V1' = 30 - V2' Equation 2

Substitute (Equation 2) in (Equation 1):

- 100 = -10 (30 -V2') + 30V2'

- 100 = 300 + 10V2' + 30V2'
V2' = 5 cm/s

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 ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND ALLIED SUBJECTS (ESAS)
 

2. A block of wood floats in water with 5 cm projecting above the water surface.
When placed in glycerine of specific gravity of 1.35, the block projects 7.5 cm
above the liquid. Determine its specific gravity.

A. 0.514
B. 0.704
C. 0.836
D. 0.658

SOLUTION: 

Let: A = base area

h = height of the wood

W = BF1
(sp. gr.w) (ωwater) (Vt) = (ωwater) (VD)
sp. gr.w (Ah) = A (h-5)
h-5
sp. gr.w = Equation 1
h

W = BF2
(sp. gr.w) (ωwater) (Vt) = (sp. gr.g) (ωwater) (VD)
sp. gr.w (Ah) = (1.35) (A) (h - 7)
1.35 (h - 7.5)
sp. gr.w = Equation 2
h

Equate (Equation 1) to (Equation 2)

h-5 1.35 (h - 7.5)

=
h h
h-5 = 1.35h - 10.125
h = 14.64 cm

Substitute in (Equation 1)

14.64 - 5
sp. gr.w =
14.64

sp. gr.w = 0.658

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 ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND ALLIED SUBJECTS (ESAS)
 

3. A 600 N block rests in a surface inclined at 30⁰. Determine the horizontal force P
required to prevent the block from sliding down. Angle of friction between the
block and the inclined plane is 15⁰.

A. 160.75 N
B. 164.60 N
C. 190.45 N
D. 198.55 N

SOLUTION: 

ƩFx 0=
P cos θ + F =
W sin θ
P cos θ + μ N =
W sin θ
P cos 30° + tan 15⁰ N 600 sin 30⁰
=
300 – 0.866 P
P = Equation 1
0.268

ƩFx = 0
N = W cos θ + P sin θ
N = 600 cos 30⁰ + P sin 30⁰
N = 519.6 + 0.5 P Equation 2

Equate (Equation 1) to (Equation 2)

300 – 0.866 P
= 519.6 + 0.5 P
0.268

P = 160.75 Newtons

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 ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND ALLIED SUBJECTS (ESAS)
 
4. Determine the sag of a flexible wire cable weighing 60 N/m over two frictionless
pulleys 100 m apart and carrying one 10 kN weight at each end. Assume the
weight of the cable to be uniformly distributed horizontally. The cable extends
5 m beyond each pulley to the point they are attached to the weights.

A. 7.2 m
B. 7.4 m
C. 7.6 m
D. 7.8 m

SOLUTION: 

60N
T = 10,000 + (5m) = 10,300 N
m

ωL 2
T2 = + H2
2

60 (100)
(10,300) 2 = + H2
2

H = 9853.42 N

ωL2
H =
8d

60 (100) 2
9853.42 =
8d

d = 7.6 m

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 ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND ALLIED SUBJECTS (ESAS)
 
5. A train passing point A at a speed of 72 kph accelerates at 0.75 m/s2 for one
minute along a straight path then decelerates at 1.0 m/s2. How far in km from
point A will it be 2 minutes after passing point A?

A. 3.60 km
B. 4.65 km
C. 6.49 km
D. 7.30 km

SOLUTION: 

72 km 1hr 1000 m
Vo = x x
hr 60 min sec

Vo = 20 m/s

1
S1 = Vo t1 + a t 12
2

1
S1 = 20 (60) + (0.75) (60) 2
2

2550
S1 = 2550 m = = 2.55 km
1000

V1 = Vo + a t1

V1 = 20 + 0.75 (60) = 65 m/sec

1
S2 = V1 t2 - a t 22
2
1 2100
S2 = 65 (60) - (1) (60) 2 = 2100 m = = 2.10 km
2 1000

Solving for total distance

S = S1 + S2 = 2.55 + 2.10

S = 4.65 km

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 ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND ALLIED SUBJECTS (ESAS)
 
6. An automobile moving at a constant velocity of a 15 m/sec passes a gasoline
station. Two seconds later, another automobile leaves the gasoline station and
accelerates at a constant rate of 2 m/sec2. How soon will the second automobile
overtake the first?

A. 13.5 sec
B. 15.3 sec
C. 16.8 sec
D. 18.6 sec

SOLUTION: 

S1 = V1 t1
S1 = 15 ( t2 + 2 )

S1 = 15 t2 + 30 Equation 1

1
S2 = V2 t2 + a t 22
2

1
S2 = 0 (t2) + (2) t22
2

S2 = t22 Equation 2

Equate (Equation 1) to (Equation 2):

S1 = S2

15 t2 + 30 = t 22
t 22 - 15t2 – 30 = 0

By quadratic formula:
15 ± √ (15)2 – 4 (1) (-30) 15 ± 18.574
t2 = =
2 (1) 2

Take + sign, t2 = 16.8 seconds

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 ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND ALLIED SUBJECTS (ESAS)
 
7. Using a powerful air gun, a steel ball is shot vertically upward with a velocity of
80 meters per second, followed by another shot after 5 seconds. Find the initial
velocity of the second ball in order to meet the first ball 150 meters from the
ground.

A. 45.1 m/sec
B. 56.2 m/sec
C. 61.3 m/sec
D. 65.3 m/sec

SOLUTION: 
V12 = Vo2 - 2gh1

0 = (80) 2 - 2 ( 9.81 ) h1

h1 = 326.2 m

V1 = Vo - gt1

0 = 80 - ( 9.81 ) t1

t1 = 8.155 sec

1
h2 = V1 t2 + gt22
2
h2 = h1 - h3 = 326.2 - 150
1
176.2 = 0 (t2) + (9.81) t22
2
t2 = 6 sec

t 3 = t 1 + t2 - 5

t3 = 8.155 + 6 - 5

t3 = 9.155 sec
1
h3 = V3 t3 - gt32
2
1
150 = V3 (9.155) - (9.81) (9.155)2
2
V3 = 61.3 m/s

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 ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND ALLIED SUBJECTS (ESAS)
 
8. A 100 gram of water is mixed to 150 gram of alcohol (ρ = 790 kg/m3). Calculate
the specific volume of the solution, assuming that it is mixed completely.

A. 0.63 cm3/g
B. 0.82 cm3/g
C. 0.88 cm3/g

D. 1.20 cm3/g

SOLUTION: 

m t = m 1 + m2

mt = 100 + 150

mt = 250 g

m1 m2
Vt = V1 + V2 = +
ρ1 ρ2

Note: The density of water (ρ1) is 1000 kg/m3

Therefore:

3
0.100 0.150 -4 3
1000 cm
Vt = + = 2.8987 x 10 m x
1000 790 1m

Vt = 289.87 cm3

Vt 289.87
V = =
mt 250

V = 1.20 cm3/g

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 ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND ALLIED SUBJECTS (ESAS)
 
9. The pressure of the nitrogen gas thermometer is 76 cm at 0°C. What is the
temperature of a liquid in which the bulb of the thermometer is immersed when
the pressure is seen to be 87.7 cm.

A. 34°C
B. 45°C
C. 60°C
D. 90°C

SOLUTION: 

Formula:

P1 V1 P2 V2
= , Note: V1 = V2
T1 T2

Therefore:

78 87.7
=
0 + 273 T2

T2 = 306.95 °K

T2 = 306.95 - 273

T2 = 34 °C

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 ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND ALLIED SUBJECTS (ESAS)
 

10. An iron column of annular cross-section has an outer diameter of 200 mm and is
subjected to a force of 74 kN. Find the thickness of the wall if the allowable
compressive stress is 10 MPa.

A. 12.57 mm
B. 12.75 mm
C. 15.75 mm
D. 17.75 mm

SOLUTION: 

Formula:
P P
σ = ; A =
A σ

Therefore:
75,000
A = = 0.0075 m2
10 x 106

π π
A = D2 - d2
4 4

π π
0.0075 = (0.20)2 - d2
4 4

d = 0.1745 m

Solving for t:
D = d + 2t

0.2 = 0.1745 + 2t

t = 0.01275 m x 1000

t = 12.75 mm

ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND ALLIED SUBJECTS (ESAS) Page 10