EN40: Dynamics and Vibrations

Midterm Examination
Thursday March 8 2018
School of Engineering
Brown University

NAME:

General Instructions

• No collaboration of any kind is permitted on this examination.

• You may bring 2 double sided pages of reference notes. No other material may be consulted
• Write all your solutions in the space provided. No sheets should be added to the exam.
• Make diagrams and sketches as clear as possible, and show all your derivations clearly.
Incomplete solutions will receive only partial credit, even if the answer is correct.
• If you find you are unable to complete part of a question, proceed to the next part.

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`By affixing my name to this paper, I affirm that I have executed the examination in accordance with
the Academic Honor Code of Brown University. PLEASE WRITE YOUR NAME ABOVE ALSO!

1 (10 points)

2. (11 points)

3. (9 points)

TOTAL (30 points)

1. An aircraft carrier travels with constant speed
Vc . At time t=0 an aircraft with mass m traveling V0 VC
with initial speed V0 (relative to a stationary origin)
touches down on its deck. After touchdown, the j
2
aircraft is slowed by a drag force FD = −cv i ,
i
where v is the aircraft’s speed (relative to a d

stationary origin).
d

1.1 Write down a formula for the distance xc traveled by the aircraft carrier for time t>0, in terms of Vc

We can use the constant acceleration formula xc = Vc t

[1 POINT]

1.2 Find a formula for the speed of the aircraft (relative to a stationary origin) as a function of time (for t>0),
in terms of c, m,V0 .

dv c
Newton’s law gives = − v2
dt m

Separate variables and integrate

v t
dv c 1 1 c 1 1 c
∫ v2 ∫ = −
m
dt ⇒ − +
v V0
=− t⇒ =
m
+ t
v V0 m
V0 0
V m
⇒v= 0
m + cV0t

[3 POINTS]

1.3 Find a formula for the distance traveled by the aircraft (relative to a stationary point) as a function of
time. The following integral may be helpful
t
dt 1  b 
∫=
a + bt b
log 1 + t 
 a 
0

dx V0 m
From the preceding problem =
dt m + cV0t
Separate variables and integrate
x t t
V m 
( log ( m + cV0t ) − log(m) )
V0 m m
= ∫
dx ∫ =
dt ⇒ x  0 log ( m + cV=
0t ) 
m + cV0t  cV0  0
c
0 0
m  cV 
=
⇒x log 1 + 0 t 
c  m 

[2 POINTS]

2
1.3 Hence, or otherwise, find formula for the minimum length d required for the aircraft to land without
falling off the end of the deck, in terms of m, c,V0 ,Vc

The aircraft comes to rest on the deck when it has the same speed as the aircraft carrier. The time taken
follows from 1.2 as
V0 m V0 m m  V0 
V=c ⇒ m + cV0=t ⇒= t  − 1
m + cV0t Vc cV0  Vc 
During this time the aircraft travels a distance
m V
xa = log 0
c Vc
The aircraft carrier travels a distance
mVc  V0 
x=
c V= ct  − 1
cV0  Vc 
When it reaches the end of the runway, the aircraft has traveled a distance d further than the aircraft
carrier. Therefore
m V0 Vc 
xa = xc + d ⇒ d ≥ xa − xc =  log + − 1
c Vc V0 

[4 POINTS]

3
 1
e e
r

0.5
r

0
y

-0.5

-1
-1 -0.5 0 0.5 1
x

2. The figure shows the trajectory of a particle with mass m in an electric field. The polar coordinates of the
particle vary with time t according to the formulas

=r e −t = θ e 2t − 1
2.1 Find a formula for the velocity vector of the particle as a function of time, as components in the
{e r , eθ } basis

dr dθ
v= er + r −e −t e r + 2et eθ
eθ =
dt dt
[1 POINT]

2.2 Find a formula for the acceleration vector of the particle as a function of time, as components in the
{e r , eθ } basis

 d 2r  dθ  
2  d 2θ dr dθ 
a = − r   e +  r +2  eθ
 dt 2  dt  
r  dt 2 dt dt 
   

=
 −t −t
 e − e 2e

( )
2t 2 
( − t 2t − t 2t
 e r + e 4e − 2e 2e eθ

)
= ( e−t − 4e3t ) er
[2 POINTS]

4
2.3 Show that the force on the particle acts in the e r direction, and show that the magnitude of the force as a
function of r and m is

 4
=
F m r − 
 r3 

F = ma shows

( )
m e −t − 4e3t e r =
F (t ) =
 4
m  r −  er
 r3 
[2 POINTS]

2.4 Find a formula for the potential energy of the force acting on the particle (your answer may include an
arbitrary constant if you wish)

 1 1 
( )
r
 4 1
V=− ∫ m  r − e r ⋅ dre r + C =− m r 2 − r02 − 2m  −  + C
r3   r2 r2 
r0 
2  0 

r2 2
=
−m − m
2 r2

[2 POINTS]

2.5 Find unit vectors normal and tangent to the path at time t=0.

The tangent vector is parallel to v so

−e r + 2eθ
t=
5
The normal vector is perpendicular to v, which we can find with a cross product with k

 −e + 2eθ  1
n =k ×  r  = (−2e r − eθ )
 5  5

[2 POINTS]

2.6 Find the normal and tangent components of acceleration at time t=0.

1 6
an =a ⋅ n =( −3) e r ⋅ (−2e r − eθ ) =
5 5
 −e + 2eθ  3
at = a ⋅ t = ( −3) e r ⋅  r =
 5  5

[2 POINTS]

5
 3. The figure shows an idealization of a head inside a
protective helmet. The helmet shell has mass M, and the Head Helmet shell M
protective foam inside the shell is idealized as springs with Impulse
stiffness k and unstretched length L0 Foam
I k,L 0
At time t=0 the helmet and head are both at rest, and the
m
length of the springs is equal to their unstretched length. L0 L0
The helmet shell is then subjected to a horizontal impulse I, v0
which causes it to move at speed v0 just after the impulse. Just after
Impulse
The springs exert no force on either the head or the helmet m
casing during the impulse. Gravity and vertical motion of
the head or helmet may be neglected.
v1
Spring at max
3.1. Find a formula for v0 in terms of I and M. compression
m
v0 = I / M x
[1 POINT]

3.2. Find expressions for the total linear momentum and total kinetic energy of the system just after the
impulse, in terms of I and the mass M of the shell

p0 = I
1 I2
=T0 =Mv02
2 2M

[2 POINTS]

6
3.3. Consider the system at the instant when the foam on the left of the head is compressed to its smallest
thickness (i.e. x is a minimum). Using energy and/or momentum conservation, find a formula for x at this
instant. Assume that the foam remains in contact with the head on both sides (so one spring is stretched), as
indicated in the figure.

Energy and momentum are conserved, and the casing and head have the same speed at the instant of
max compression, so
1 I2
( M + m ) v12 + k ( L0 − x )2 =
2 2M
( M + m)v1 = I
I2 I2 mI 2
⇒ k ( L0 − x ) =
2
− =
2 M 2( M + m) 2 M ( M + m)
m
⇒ x = L0 − I
2kM ( M + m)

[3 POINTS]

3.4. Hence, find a formula for the minimum foam thickness L0 necessary to prevent the head from striking
the helmet shell, in terms of m, M, I,k

m
L0 = I
2kM ( M + m)

[1 POINT]

3.5. Find a formula for the total impulse exerted on the head between t=0 and the instant of maximum
foam compression, in terms of I,M,m.

The impulse on the head is equal to its change in momentum. Thus

m
= p mv =1i I
M +m

[2 POINTS]