Level 3 Diploma/Extended Diploma in Advanced

Manufacturing Engineering (Development Knowledge)

Unit 311 Handout 5

Unit 311: Mechanical principles of engineering systems

Handout 5: Dynamics of simple systems

Newton’s three laws of motion

1. An object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless compelled to change
its state by the action of an external force.
2. The acceleration of an object produced by a force is directly proportional to the magnitude of
the force, in the same direction as the force, and inversely proportional to the mass of the
object.
3. For every action/force there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Kinetic energy
Kinetic energy is the energy that an object possesses due to its motion.
1
The formula for kinetic energy is: 𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾 = 𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣 2 , where 𝑚𝑚 is the mass of the object and 𝑣𝑣 its
2
velocity.
Kinetic energy example
A car with a mass of 1100 kg is travelling with a velocity of 40 m s-1. Calculate its kinetic energy.
1
Answer: 𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾 = 𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣 2 = 0.5 × 1100 × 402 = 880,000 J (or 880 kJ)
2

Potential energy
Potential energy is the energy held by an object because of its position, for example its height
above the ground. Potential energy can also result from internal stresses or electric charge.
The formula for potential energy is: 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚ℎ, where 𝑚𝑚 is the mass of the object, 𝑔𝑔 is gravity
and ℎ is the height of the object.
Potential energy example
Calculate the potential energy of a pallet with a mass of 80 kg that is sitting on top of a platform
30 m high.
Answer: 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚ℎ = 80 × 9.8 × 30 = 23,520 J (or 23.52 kJ)

Conservation of momentum and colliding bodies

Consider two bodies A and B of masses m1 and m2 moving with velocities u1 and u2 on a direct
collision course, where u1 is greater than u2, A will collide with B. By Newton’s third law there will
be a reaction from B to A. If after the collision the two bodies rebound with final velocities v1 and
v2 then v1 will be less than u1 and v2 will be greater than u2. From Newton’s third law, to every
action there will be an equal and opposite reaction so the loss of momentum by A is equal to the
gain of momentum by B. This is the ‘principle of conservation of momentum’, which states that
the total momentum of a system of masses in any given direction will remain constant unless the
system is acted upon by an external force in that direction.
The principle of conservation of momentum can be applied to bodies colliding so that specific
details after collision (or before) can be found.

© 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 2
Level 3 Diploma/Extended Diploma in Advanced
Manufacturing Engineering (Development Knowledge)
Unit 311 Handout 5

For example, a truck A of mass 6.1 Mg travelling with a velocity of 16 km hr-1 collides with a truck
B of mass 4 Mg travelling with a velocity of 10 km hr-1 in the same direction. If the relative velocity
of truck B is 12 km hr-1 after the collision, find the final velocity of truck A.
To simplify the working, as far as possible for this example we will use Mg and km hr-1.

a. The initial momentum of truck A.

Initial momentum = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 6.1 × 16 = 97.6 Mg km hr −1
b. The initial momentum of truck B.
Initial momentum = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 4 × 10 = 40 Mg km hr −1
c. Total initial momentum of trucks A and B:
Total initial momentum = 97.6 + 40 = 137.6 Mg km hr −1
d. The final momentum of truck B.
Final momentum = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 4 × 12 = 48 Mg km hr −1
e. The final momentum of truck A.
Final momentum = total initial momentum − final momentum of truck B
= 137.6 – 48 = 89.6 Mg km hr −1
f. The final velocity of truck A.
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 89.6
Final velocity = = = 𝑣𝑣 = 14.7 km hr −1 (to 3 significant figures)
𝑚𝑚 6.1

Example of calculation

Two vehicles are travelling directly towards each other. Vehicle 1 has a mass of 1000 kg is
travelling at 10 m s-1. Vehicle 2 has a mass of 400 kg and a velocity of 15 m s-1, travelling directly
towards and in line with the first vehicle.

After they collide the two vehicles become fixed together as a single mass. Determine the
common velocity after the collision. Assume that no energy is lost as a result of the collision.

Answer: 𝑚𝑚1 = 1000 kg, 𝑢𝑢1 = 10 m s −1 , 𝑚𝑚2 = 400 kg, 𝑢𝑢2 = −15 m s−1
Initial momentum = 𝑚𝑚1 𝑢𝑢1 + 𝑚𝑚2 𝑢𝑢2 = (1000 × 10) + (400 × −15) = 4000 kg m s −1
Therefore, final momentum = 4000 kg m s−1 = (𝑚𝑚1 + 𝑚𝑚2 ) × 𝑢𝑢3
4000
Rearranging, 𝑢𝑢3 = = 2.85 m s−1
1000+400

© 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. Page 2 of 2