UNIVERSITY OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY, TARKWA

FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION, APRIL 2024

COURSE NO: GM/GL/CV/CE/ES/EL 167
COURSE NAME: BASIC MECHANICS
CLASSGM/GL/C
E/CV/ES/EL 1 TIME: 3 HRS

Section A (Part 1): Attempt all questions. [ 60 marks]

Circle the letter of the correct answers on the question paper for Section A. For every answer
indicated, you are expected to show clear and legible calculations in your answer booklet. Use
a value of g=9.81 ms-2 for the acceleration due to gravity.

1. Find the magnitude of the resultant of the two concurrent forces F1 and F2 shown in Fig
(a).
a. 114.12N c. 165.23N
b. 131.25N d. 88.95N

2. From question 1 (Fig. a), determine the angle the resultant makes with the force F1 (110
N).
a. 19.5 ̊ c. 45.2 ̊
b. 58.9 ̊ d. 24.4 ̊

Fig.(a) - Q1&2 Fig.(b) – Q3

3. Determine the angle Ɵ if the resultant of the two concurrent forces F1 and F2 in Fig.(b) is
200N.
a. 87.00 ̊ c. 96.82 ̊
b. 81.31 ̊ d. 93.82 ̊

4. Three coplanar forces of magnitude 15 kN, 26 kN and 36 kN act at a point as shown in the
above Fig.(c). Determine the magnitude of the resultant of these forces. a. 17.17 kN
c. 25.46 kN
 b. 34.32 kN d. 14.71 kN

5. From question 4 (Fig. c), what angle does the resultant make with the positive x-axis?
a. 15.6˚ c. 78.3˚
b. 38.6˚ d. 11.7˚

Fig (c) – Q4&5 Fig.(d) – Q6&7

6. From Fig.(d) above, if P = 600 N and Q = 450 N, determine the X – component of the
force Q.
a. 129.00 N c. 220.49 N
b. 368.62 N d. 223.53 N

7. From Fig.(d) above, if P = 600 N and Q = 450 N, determine the magnitude of the resultant
force.
a. 940.22 N c. 220.49 N
b. 828.25 N d. 492.20 N

8. Two balls have mass of 8 kg and 12 kg, respectively. Determine the weight of each ball.
a. 78.48 N and 117.72 N c. 196.20 N and 80.00 N
b. 80.00 N and 120.00 N d. 120.00 N and 39.24 N

9. If two balls with 8 kg and 12 kg masses are 800 mm apart, determine the force of attraction
between them. Take 𝐺 = 6.673 × 10−11 𝑚3𝑘𝑔−1 𝑠−2
a. 1.00 × 10−8 N c. 1.00 × 10−14 N
b. 1.00 × 10−10 N d. 1.00 × 10−12 N
 10. A certain body weighs 200 N at a location where the acceleration due to gravity is 9.820ms-
2
. What is the acceleration due to gravity at another location where the same body weighs
198.88N?
a. 9.783 ms-2 c. 9.765 ms-2
b. 9.814 ms-2 d. 9.820 ms-2
Use the information in Fig.(e) to answer
questions 11 and 12.

Fig.(e) – Q11 & 12 Fig.(f) – Q13

11. From Fig (e). above, determine the angle 𝜽𝒙 between the force and the x-axis.
a. 60˚ c. 54˚
b. 45˚ d. 15˚

12. Express the force F shown in Fig.(e) as a cartesian vector.

a. [100.0i + 100.0j + 141.4k] N c. [110.1i + 100.0j + 411.4k] N
b. [100.0i – 100.0j – 131.3k] N d. [100.0i + 100.0j + 141.5k] N

13. From Fig. (f), determine the moment of the 100 N force about point O.
a. 460 Nm clockwise c. 460 Nm anti-clockwise
b. 140 Nm clockwise d. 160 Nm anti-clockwise

Use Fig. (g) and the information below to answer questions 14 and 15.
A fixed crane has a mass of 2000 kg and is used to lift a 2400 kg crate. It is held in place by a
pin at point A and rocker at B. The center of gravity of the crane is located at G.
 Fig. (g) – Q14&15

14. Determine the vertical component of the reaction at A.

a. 3.92 kN c. 43.16 kN
b. 4.4 k N d. 23.54 kN

15. Determine the reaction at B.

a. 120.32 N c. 68.00 N
b. 270.42 N d. 172.64 N

Use Fig. (h) and the information below to answer questions 16 and 17.
The pole is subjected to a force F which has components 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟏. 𝟓 𝐤𝐍 and 𝑭𝒛 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓 𝐤𝐍. If
the angle β=75˚,

Fig. (h) -Q16&17

16. Determine the magnitude of the force F.
a. 1.54 kN c. 2.02 kN
b. 2.78 kN d. 3.92 kN
 17. Determine the magnitude of Fy.
a. 1.523 kN c. 0.253 kN
b. 0.413 kN d. 0.523 kN

Use Fig (i) to answer questions 18, 19 and 20.

Fig. (i) - Q18,19&20

18. Find the force vector of F.
a. [29.71i – 59.42j + 44.57k] N c. [185.7i – 371.4j + 278.5k] N
b. [29.71i + 59.24j – 44.57k] N d. [185.7i + 371.4j – 278.5k] N

19. Find the magnitude of the moment of the force F about point C.
a. 500.50 N c. 742.82 N
b. 148.56 N d. 927.64 N

20. Determine the perpendicular distance between C and the line of action of the force F.
a. 0.54 m c. 0.80 m
b. 2.42 m d. 1.86 m

Fig. (j) – Q21

21. Determine the resultant moment at point O by the four forces acting on the rod in fig.(j)
a. 173.92 Nm [clockwise] c. 268.04 Nm [clockwise]
 b. 573.92 Nm [clockwise] d. 333.92 Nm [clockwise]
The beam shown in fig. (k) below has pin support at A and a roller support at B. (neglect
the weight of the beam).

Use the fig(k) to answer questions 22, 23 and 24.

Fig. (k) – Q22,23&24

22. Determine the horizontal component of the reaction at A

a. 700 N c. 0 N
b. 346 N d. 200 N

23. Determine the vertical component of the reaction at A.

a. 22.97 N c. 171.34 N
b. 319.89 N d. 623.44 N

24. Determine the vertical component of the reaction at C.

a. 171.34 N c. 669.38 N
b. 623.44 N d. 319.89 N

Use the information in Fig. (m) to answer questions 25 and 26.

Fig. (m) – Q25&26 Fig. (n) – Q27,28,29&30

 25. From the free body diagram, determine TB.
a. 1632.9 N c. 882.9 N
b. 1007.9 N d. 657.9 N

26. From the free body diagram, find TA.

a. 629.8 N c. 169.3 N
b. 200.5 N d. 294.3 N

Use the information provided in Fig. (n) to answer question 27, 28, 29 and 30
A pin jointed truss is supported by a roller at A and a pin at C as shown in Fig. (n) above.
27. Determine the support reactions at C. (Cx and Cy)
a. Cx = 10 kN and Cy = 20 kN c. Cx = 10 kN and Cy = 40 kN
b. Cx = 20 kN and Cy = 50 kN d. Cx = 70 kN and Cy = 40 kN

28. Determine the force in member BC.

a. 40 kN (Tesnion) c. 40 kN (Compression)
b. 20 kN (Compression) d. 20 kN (Tesnion)

29. Determine the force in member AD.

a. 20 kN (Tension) c. 28.3 kN (Tension)
b. 28.3 kN (Compression) d. 20 kN (Compression)

30. Determine the force in member DB.

c. 67.1 kN (Compression) c. 67.1 kN (Tension)
d. 28.3 kN (Compression) d. 28.3 kN (Tension)

Section A (Part 2): Attempt all questions. (31 – 40) [10 marks]

31. The relation 𝐹 = 𝑚 (𝑣2−𝑣1) is based on.

𝑡
a. Newton' s 1st law c. Newton' s 2nd law
b. Newton' s 3rd law d. D' Alembert principle
32. A turning effect produced by force about a point is called.
a. Moment of couple c. Moment of force
b. Moment of inertia d. None of the above
33. In free body diagram (FBD), a cable is always represented by ________ force.
a. Spring c. Tensile
b. Compressive d. Normal
34. Force is completely defined by its
a. Magnitude c. Direction
b. Point of application d. All the above
35. Which of the following actions of forces does not produce a moment?
a. Opening a door c. Paddling a bicycle
b. Compressing a spring d. Opening a water tap 36. Which of the
following is not a vector quantity?
a. Moment of a force c. Density
b. Angular momentum d. Acceleration
37. Which of these characteristics of a force is shared by temperature?
a. Magnitude c. Line of action
b. Point of application d. Direction
38. Principle of transmissibility is used to represent _______ effect.
a. Internal c. External
b. Internal and external d. None of these
39. A force system in which all the forces are not on a single plane and passing through a
common point is known as?
a. Planar concurrent force system c. Spatial concurrent force system
b. Planar non-concurrent force system d. Spatial parallel force system
40. Which of the following is not a fundamental quantity?
a. Mass c. Current
b. Force d. Temperature

Section A (Part 3): Attempt all questions.

Indicate whether the following statements are true or false. (41 – 50) [10 marks]
41. A body’s weight is constant and independent of geographical location and surroundings in
which the body is placed.
a. True b. False
42. Mass is a product of weight and acceleration due to gravity.
a. True b. False
43. Density of an object can be described by its magnitude and direction.
a. True b. False
44. Fundamental quantities cannot be defined or measured in terms of other physical
quantities.
a. True b. False
45. Newton’s second law of motion states that “to every action, there is an equal and opposite
reaction”.
a. True b. False
 46. The branch of the dynamics that deals with the study of body in motion without
considering the force is called kinetics.
a. True b. False
47. A particle is a matter having considerable mass but negligible dimensions.
a. True b. False
48. A couple refers to two parallel forces that are equal in magnitude, same direction and are
separated by a perpendicular distance.
a. True b. False
49. The pin support or hinge support enforces equilibrium in two directions.
a. True b. False
50. If the net force acting on a body of constant mass is zero, then the body is either at rest or
moving with a constant velocity.
a. True b. False

Section B: Attempt only one (1) question.

Question 1
A 4.80-m-long beam is subjected to the forces shown in Figure (1). Reduce the given system
of forces to (a) an equivalent force-couple system at A, (b) an equivalent force-couple system
at B, (c) a single force or resultant. Note: Since the reactions at the supports are not included in
the given system of forces, the given system will not maintain the beam in equilibrium.

[20 marks]
Figure 1

Question 2
The 6-m boom AB has a fixed end A as shown in figure 2 below. A steel cable is stretched
from the free end B of the boom to point C located on the vertical wall. If the tension in the
cable TBC is 4 kN, determine the magnitude of the moment about point A of the force exerted
by the cable and the perpendicular distance between point A and the line of action of the force.
 [20 marks]
Figure 2
Examiners: E. S. Nanor / J. Ellis