Mock quiz (with answers)

Anindya Chatterjee, IIT Kanpur

September 5, 2022

Instructions: Here are 5 problems for you to practice on. Submission is not necessary. Discuss
them with others if you like. Each problem asks for one number. Compute it to 10 significant digits
(do not round off at the last digit, leave it with dots at the end, as in 5.243360950 · · · ).
1. See figure 1. An elastica AB (inextensible flexible strip) with bending modulus EI = 1 Nm2
and length L = 1 m is built into the ground so that it is perfectly upright when unloaded.
Ignore gravity. A sideways force F acts at end B, taking it to point B0 . If h = 0.6 m, find F
in N.

Figure 1: Elastica with end load. Ans: 5.243360950 · · · , received first from Pranab Pandey, 190620.

2. See figure 2. Two identical uniform rectangular plates of edge lengths L and L/2 and weight
W each were to be suspended, as shown, using 4 identical massless strings of length L.
Unfortunately, there was an error and the length of one string, namely AB, was 1.1L. The
lengths of the other strings were L. The suspended assembly was no longer straight. In that
equilibrium configuration, the tension in string AB was cW for some number c. Compute c.
3. See figure 3. All distances and lengths in this problem are measured in metres. The blue
curve shows a frictionless constraint surface whose equation is

y = x2 .

A uniform thin rigid rod of length L = 2 m is held in place as shown by a force F . The weight
of the rod is W . The distance xA is 0.3L. The force F required for equilibrium is cW for
some number c. Compute c.

1
Figure 2: Hanging two rectangular plates. Ans: 0.8992644759 · · · , received first from Pranab
Pandey, 190620.

Figure 3: Equilibrium of a rod. Ans: 1.322780562 · · · , received first from Raj Agarwal, 190672.

4. See figure 4. A uniform chain is hung using strings. The distance PQ is L. The length of the
chain (shown in purple) is 1.2L. Massless strings PA and QB (shown in green) have lengths
0.4L and 0.3L respectively. At equilibrium, compute the angle φ in radians.
5. See figure 5. All distances and lengths in this problem are measured in metres. The green
constraint surface is described by the equation h = 2s2 . Line PQ is horizontal, and the
distance PQ is 1 m. A uniform chain of length 1.5 m, shown in red, is held at points P and
Q. The chain is free between P and some point A (where it is tangential1 to the constraint
1
Why tangential?

2
Figure 4: Chain hung by massless strings. Ans: 1.194666408 · · · , all digits first received from Raj
Agarwal, 190672, though some others were close.

surface); and then it lies on the constraint surface until point Q. Compute the distance xA .

Figure 5: Chain rests partially on constraint surface. Ans: 0.592194042199 · · · , so for the 10th digit
I will accept both 1 and 2. Matching answer first received from Raj Agarwal, 190672, though some
others were close.