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MECHANICS (DISCUSSION)

6 −10 7 −8 5
1. The force F1 = ( ), F2 = ( ), F3 = ( ), F4 = ( ) and F5 = ( )N act at the
5 −4 −7 2 4
points, (2,2),(5,0),(-4,-4), (0,-5) and (6,0) respectively.
(a) Show that the system reduces to a couple and state the moment of the couple.
(b) The force F3 is removed from the system and a couple added to the new
system. Given that the line of action of the resultant of the forces cuts the y-axis
at (0,10), find the couple. (LUGOBE & MPOZA)
2. Given that a = 3i − 4j + 2k and vector b is such that |b|=10 and acts in the
direction d = 4i + 2j + 3k.
Find; (i) vector b. (ii) The angle between a and b. (ASIIMWE & ZINDA)
3. A particle moving with an acceleration given by a = (4i +12j − 3k)ms-2 is located
at the point (5,-6,2) and has velocity (11i − 8j + 3k)ms-1 at time t = 0. Find the
displacement after t = 2s. (NUWAMANYA)
4. A particle of weight 8N is attached to a point B on a light inextensible string AB.
A hangs in equilibrium with point A fixed and AB at an angle 30° to the
downward vertical. A force F at B acting at right angles to AB, keeps the particle
in equilibrium. Find the magnitude of force F and the tension in the string.
(DDAMULIRA)
5. Forces (2i + 3j)N, (5i − 2j)N and (ai + bj) act at points with
coordinates(2,−3),(2,4) and (3,−2) respectively. Given that the forces reduce to a
couple, find;
(i) The values of a and b. ( NANTALE)
(ii) The moment of the couple. (NAKIBIRAMGO)
(iii) State the toque that would be applied to the system to cause equilibrium.
(NABADDA)
6. A racing car starts from rest and its acceleration after ts

( −2
)
is K − 1 6 t ms until it reaches a velocity of 60ms-1 at the end of one

minute. Find the value of K and the distance traveled in this first minute.
(KITENDA)

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7. 3 forces of magnitude 6N, 4N and 2√2 N act along AD, AB, and AC respectively
as shown below. ABCD is a square. Determine the resultant of the 3 forces and the
angle that the resultant force makes with AB. (KIWALABYE)
D C

6N

4N
A B
N
8. A uniform ladder rests against a smooth vertical wall and on a rough horizontal
ground. The weight of the ladder is 10N and it is just about to slip when inclined at
30° to the vertical. Calculate the coefficient of friction. (BUSINGE)
9. Two like parallel forces of 9N and 15N respectively are 6m apart. Find the
magnitude of the resultant of the two forces and the distance between its line of
action and 9N force. (NASSUUNA)
10. A body of mass 12kg is placed on a horizontal plane. The body is connected by a
light in extensible string passing over a smooth pulley which holds another body
of mass 8kg. The coefficient of the friction between the 12kg mass body and the
table is 0.5. If the system is released from rest;

(a) Find the frictional force experienced by 12kg mass and state whether motion
will occur. (NAMUKWAYA)
(b) What will happen if the 12kg is changed to 16kg? (TUSUBIRA)
(c) Find the frictional force if 8kg is changed to 10kg in (a). (NAMANYA)

11. A car moves from Kampala to Jinja and back. Its average speed on the return
journey is 4kmh-1 greater than that on the outward journey and it takes 12 minutes
less. Given that Kampala and Jinja are 80 km apart. Find the average speed on the
outward journey. (BUSOBOZI)

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12. A body of mass 8kg rests on a rough plane inclined at θ to the horizontal. If the
coefficient of friction is μ; find the least horizontal force in terms of μ, θ and g
which will hold the body in equilibrium. (KATOOLE)
13. The diagram below shows forces in equilibrium acting at Q

6N x

3N 600 2N
Qͦ
120 ͦ

y
(i) Find the values of x and y. (KASOLO)
(ii) If the 6N force is removed, calculate the magnitude and direction of the
resultant force at Q. (KIBWIIKA)

14. A stone is projected with a speed of 144kph from a point O at the top of a cliff 100m
above a horizontal beach. If the stone hits the beach at a point Q 200m fromO;
Find the possible angles of projection. (KIZITO D)
15. A body of mass 2kg lies on a rough plane which is inclined at 40o to the
horizontal. The angle of friction between the plane and the body given is 15o.
Find the greatest horizontal force that can be applied to the body without motion
occurring. (KIZITO M)
16. A particle is travelling between two points X and Y with linear simple harmonic
motion. If the distance XY is 6 m and the maximum acceleration of the particle is
16ms-2, find the;
i. Time taken to travel a distance of 1.5m from X. (TALEMWA)
ii. The maximum speed of the particle.

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17. (a) A uniform ladder of mass 30 kg and length, l is placed with its base on
a rough horizontal surface with coefficient of friction ¼, and its top
against a smooth vertical wall. If the ladder makes 60o with the floor,
find the maximum horizontal force that must be applied at the base of the
ladder in order to prevent slipping? (LUYIMA)

(b) A uniform cylinder has a height of 40cm and base radius of r cm. It is
placed with its axis vertical on a rough horizontal plane. The plane is
slowly tilted, and the cylinder topples when the angle of inclination of
the plane to the horizontal is 20o. Find r. (MULWANA)
18. A road running North-South crosses a road running East – West at a junction O.
At 11:30 am, Mukasa is on the East-West road, 1.7km west of O and is cycling
towards O at 15kph. At the same time, Akello is at O cycling due north at 8kph.
If the cyclists do not alter their velocities, find the;
i. Time when the cyclists are nearest to each other.
(Correct to the nearest minute) (TUGUME)
ii. Least distance between the cyclists.
iii. Bearing of Mukasa from Akello when they are nearest to each other.

19. A particle P, of mass 2kg is moving under the influence of a variable force F. At
time, t seconds, the velocity V ms-1 of P is given by V = 2t i + e-t j
(a) Find F.V at time t seconds. (NABWIRE)
(b) Find the acceleration of P when t = 0.2 seconds. (NAKALANZI)
(c) Find the work done from t=0 to t=0.2 seconds. (NATTU)
(d) Calculate the power exerted from t=0 to t = 0.2 seconds. (NATURINDA)
20. The forces 3 N, 4 N, 5 N and 6 N act along the sides AB, BC, CD and DA of a
rectangle. Their directions are in the order of the letter find the equation of the line
of action of the resultant and distance ̅̅̅̅
AP, given that the line of action of the
resultant crosses AB at point P and ̅̅̅̅
AB =10 cm and ̅̅̅̅
BC = 6 cm . (MPAGI)
21. (a) A particle of weight 29.4 N is attached to the lower end Q of an
inextensible string. The upper end P of the string is fixed to a point on a
wall. A horizontal force F N and an upward vertical Force of 4.9 N
maintain equilibrium with the string at 470 to the horizontal. Find the value
of F. (OGWAL)
(b) Three particles of mass m kg, 2m kg and m kg are located at points A
(3, 0), B (Q, 4) and C (0, 4) respectively. Given that the coordinates of the
centre of gravity of the points is G (3, P), find the values of P and Q.
(TALEMWA)

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