Worksheet on n-t and r- θ Coordinates, Dynamics//2022

1. At the bottom A of the vertical inside loop, the magnitude of the total acceleration of the
airplane is 3g. If the airspeed is 800 km/h and is increasing at the rate of 20 km/h per
second, calculate the radius of curvature ρ of the path at A.

[Ans. ρ = 1709 m]

2. A rocket travelling above the atmosphere at an altitude of 500 km would have a free-fall
acceleration g = 8.43 m/s2 in the absence of forces other than gravitational attraction.
Because of thrust, however, the rocket has an additional acceleration component a1 of
8.80 m/s2 tangent to its trajectory, which makes an angle of 300 with the vertical at the
instant considered. If the velocity v of the rocket is 30,000 km/h at this position, compute
the radius of curvature ρ of the trajectory and the rate at which v is changing with time.

[Ans. ρ = 16480 km, v̇ = 1.499 m/s2]

Keyru S. ECE Page 1

 Worksheet on n-t and r- θ Coordinates, Dynamics//2022

3. From measurements of a photograph, it has been found that as the stream of water
(projectile) shown left the nozzle at A, it had a radius of curvature of 25 m. Determine (a)
the initial velocity vA of the stream, (b) the radius of curvature of the stream as it reaches
its maximum height at B.

[Ans.(a) vA = 14 m/s, (b) ρ = 12.8 m]

4. If the box in the Figure below starts from rest at A and increases its speed such that at =
(0.2t) m/s2, where t is in seconds, determine the magnitude of its acceleration when it
arrives at point B.

[Ans. a = 5.36 m/s2]

5. A particle moves along a circular path having a radius of 10 m. such that its position as a
function of time is given by θ = (cos 2t) rad, where t is in seconds. Determine the
magnitude of the acceleration of the particle when θ = 30°.

[Ans. a = 35.58 m/s2]

6. The train passes point A with a speed of 30 m/s and begins to decrease its speed at a
constant rate of at = – 0.25 m/s2. Determine the magnitude of the acceleration of the train
when it reaches point B, where sAB = 412 m.

[Ans. a = 0.309 m/s2]

Keyru S. ECE Page 2
 Worksheet on n-t and r- θ Coordinates, Dynamics//2022

7. Motion of the sliding block P in the rotating radial slot is controlled by the power screw
as shown. For the instant represented, 𝜃̇ = 0.1 rad/s, 𝜃̈ = – 0.4 rad/s2, and r = 300 mm.
Also, the screw turns at a constant speed giving ṙ = 40 mm/s. For this instant, determine
the magnitude of the velocity v and acceleration a of P. Sketch v and a if θ = 1200.

[Ans. v = 50 mm/s, a = 5 mm/s2]

8. As the hydraulic cylinder rotates around O, the exposed length l of the piston rod P is
controlled by the action of oil pressure in the cylinder. If the cylinder rotates at constant
rate 𝜃̇ = 60 deg/s and l is decreasing at the constant rate of 150 mm/s, calculate the
magnitude of the velocity v and acceleration a of end B when l = 125 mm.

[Ans. v = 545 mm/s, a = 632 mm/s2]

Keyru S. ECE Page 3

 Worksheet on n-t and r- θ Coordinates, Dynamics//2022

9. A jet plane 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 sight. If the angle θ is decreasing at the rate of
0.020 rad/s when θ = 600, determine the value of r̈ at this instant and the magnitude of the
velocity v of the plane.

[Ans. r̈ = 4.62 m/s2, v = 960 km/h]

10. Link AB rotates through a limited range of the angle β, and its end A causes the slotted
link AC to rotate also. For the instant represented where β = 600 and 𝛽̇ = 0.6 rad/s
constant, determine the corresponding values of ṙ, r̈ , 𝜃̇, and 𝜃̈.

[Ans. ṙ = 77.9 mm/s, r̈ = – 13.5 mm/s2, 𝜃̇ = – 0.3 rad/s, and 𝜃̈ = 0]

Keyru S. ECE Page 4

 Worksheet on n-t and r- θ Coordinates, Dynamics//2022

11. At the bottom of a loop in the vertical plane an airplane has a horizontal velocity of 150
m/s and is speeding up at a rate of 25 m/s2. The radius of curvature of the loop is 2000 m.
The plane is being tracked by radar at O. What are the recorded values of ṙ, r̈ , 𝜃̇, and 𝜃̈
for this instant?

[Ans. ṙ = 120 m/s, r̈ = 34.8 m/s2, 𝜃̇ = – 0.09 rad/s and 𝜃̈ = – 0.0156 rad/s2]

Keyru S. ECE Page 5

 Worksheet on n-t and r- θ Coordinates, Dynamics//2022

12. The slider P can be moved inward by means of the string S as the bar OA rotates about
the pivot O. The angular position of the bar is given by θ = 0.4 + 0.12t + 0.06t3, where θ
is in radians and t is in seconds. The position of the slider is given by r = 0.8 – 0.1t –
0.05t2, where r is in meters and t is in seconds. Determine the velocity and acceleration of
the slider at time t = 2 s. Find the angles α and β which v and a makes with the positive x-
axis.

[Ans. v = – 0.3er + 0.336eθ (m/s), a = – 0.382er – 0.216eθ(m/s2), α = 195.90, β = – 86.40]

13. At the instant depicted, assume the particle P, which moves on a curved path, is 80 m
from the pole O and has the velocity v and acceleration a as indicated. Determine the
instantaneous values of ṙ, r̈ , 𝜃̇, 𝜃̈, the n- and t-components of acceleration, and the radius
of curvature ρ.

[Ans. ṙ = 15 m/s, r̈ = 4.44 m/s2, 𝜃̇ = 0.325 rad/s, 𝜃̈ = – 0.0352 rad/s2, an = 6.93 m/s2,
at = 4 m/s2 and ρ = 129.9 m]

Keyru S. ECE Page 6