ME 101

QUIZ ON: 09 Oct. 2012

HOMEWORK 1
1. When fluid flows over a surface, the Reynolds number (R) will determine whether the flow is
laminar (smooth), transitional, or turbulent. Verify that the Reynolds number (as defined below) is
dimensionless, using SI units.

where is the density of the fluid, V is the free stream fluid velocity, D is the characteristic length of
the surface, and is the fluid viscosity, with units of

2. Determine which of the following equations are dimensionally consistent:

(a)

, (b)

, (c)

, (d)

where F is force, m is mass, x is distance, V is velocity, and t is time.

3. Consider the schematic drawing of a hydraulic-lift truck carrying a shipping container on the
inclined loading ramp of a warehouse, as shown below. Forces of magnitude 12-kN and 2-kN act on a
rear tire, in the directions perpendicular and parallel to the ramp, respectively. (a) Express the resultant
of those two forces as a vector using the unit vectors i and j. (b) Determine the magnitude of the
resultant force and its angle relative to the incline.

Please see next page

4. Please consider the schematic drawing below. The gripper C of an industrial robot is accidentally
subjected to a 260-N side load directed perpendicular to BC. The lengths of the robots links are
AB = 55 cm and BC = 45 cm. By using the moment components method, determine the moment of this
force about the center of joint A.