OCR MEI M2 2006 January — Question 3

Exam BoardOCR MEI
ModuleM2 (Mechanics 2)
Year2006
SessionJanuary
TopicCentre of Mass 1

3
  1. A uniform lamina made from rectangular parts is shown in Fig. 3.1. All the dimensions are centimetres. All coordinates are referred to the axes shown in Fig. 3.1. \begin{figure}[h]
    \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{c1785fde-a6ce-4f8b-9948-4b4dd973ce84-4_691_529_427_762} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 3.1}
    \end{figure}
    1. Show that the \(x\)-coordinate of the centre of mass of the lamina is 6.5 and find the \(y\)-coordinate. A square of side 2 cm is to be cut from the lamina. The sides of the square are to be parallel to the coordinate axes and the centre of the square is to be chosen so that the \(x\)-coordinate of the centre of mass of the new shape is 6.4
    2. Calculate the \(x\)-coordinate of the centre of the square to be removed. The \(y\)-coordinate of the centre of the square to be removed is now chosen so that the \(y\)-coordinate of the centre of mass of the final shape is as large as possible.
    3. Calculate the \(y\)-coordinate of the centre of mass of the lamina with the square removed, giving your answer correct to three significant figures.
  2. Fig. 3.2 shows a framework made from light rods of length 2 m freely pin-jointed at \(\mathrm { A } , \mathrm { B } , \mathrm { C }\), D and E. The framework is in a vertical plane and is supported at A and C. There are loads of 120 N at B and at E . The force on the framework due to the support at A is \(R \mathrm {~N}\). \begin{figure}[h]
    \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{c1785fde-a6ce-4f8b-9948-4b4dd973ce84-5_448_741_459_662} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 3.2}
    \end{figure} each rod is 2 m long
    1. Show that \(R = 150\).
    2. Draw a diagram showing all the forces acting at the points \(\mathrm { A } , \mathrm { B } , \mathrm { D }\) and E , including the forces internal to the rods. Calculate the internal forces in rods AE and EB , and determine whether each is a tension or a thrust. [You may leave your answers in surd form.]
    3. Without any further calculation of the forces in the rods, explain briefly how you can tell that rod ED is in thrust.