HOMEWORK –I

PHY101-Mechanics

PART-A

1. To protect his food from hungry bears, a boy scout raises his food pack with a
rope that is thrown over a tree limb at height h above his hands. He walks away
from the vertical rope with constant velocity vboy holding the free end of the rope in
his hands (Fig.).
(a) Show that the speed v of the food pack is given by x(x 2 + h 2)-1/2 v boy where x is
the distance he has walked away from the vertical rope.
(b) Show that the acceleration a of the food pack is h2(x 2+h2)-3/2 v 2 boy
(c) What values do the acceleration a and velocity v have shortly after he leaves the
point under
the pack (x = 0)?
(d) What values do the pack’s velocity and acceleration approach as the distance x
continues to
increase?

2. A thin rod of length 10m is in the x-y plane parallel to the x axis. Its centre is at
the point (3,2) .A force of 100 N in the x-y plane is applied at its right end at an
angle of 30o from the x-axis. An equal and opposite force is applied at its other end.

(i) Make a diagram showing the x-and y axes, the rod, and the forces on it.

(ii) Calculate the torque due to these forces with respect to the origin with respect
to the centre to the rod, and with respect to each end of the rod.

(iii)Why all the torques are equal?

3. Two forces are applied at two different points on a thin rigid rod; the two points
could be the end-points of the rod. Using equilibrium conditions prove that for the
rod to be in equilibrium, the direction of forces must be collinear with the rod.
 PART-B

4. A 3-m long uniform rod of steel is kept against a wall .Its lower end is 1 m away
from the wall .The weight of the rod is 50 N and there is no friction between the rod
and the wall or the rod and the floor .Calculate the horizontal force F applied at the
lower end of the wall so that the rod does not slip.

5. In the following figure there is no vertical member adjacent to the wall and
instead of a roller at the bottom end, it is fixed to the wall by a pin–joint. The
horizontal and vertical members have a length of 0.75 m each.

(i) Is the structure stable?

(ii) Is the structure statically determinate?

(iii)Calculate the forces in each member of the structure determinate? Take each
member of the truss to weight 50N

NBy
NBx
C
B

D
A
E
1000N
NE

6. Consider the roof truss ABCDEFGH. For a vertical load of 2000 N at point B and
1000N at point C, Calculate the forces in each member of the truss by the methods
of joints .Also calculate the forces in the members BC, CH, and GH by applying the
method of sections Take the truss to be of negligible mass. All the horizontal
members and the member CG are 2.5 m long.
 2000N 1000N

NA NE
C

B D

RA
θ

A H G F E