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Pearson BTEC Sample

Single-Part Assessment

Unit 1 – Mechanical Principles

Pearson BTEC International Level 3

Advised supervised 2 hours

For completion by the centre

Qualification (select as Certificate/Subsidiary Diploma/Foundation Diploma/Diploma/

Assessment date
Instructions to tutors and/or invigilators

The Pearson Set Assignment will be assessed internally by the centre, using the unit
assessment criteria given in the qualification specification. The Set Assignment will be sampled
by the Standards Verifier as part of the annual standards verification centre visit.

Conditions of supervision
The Pearson Set Assignment should be undertaken in conditions that assure the authenticity of
outcome. This may require supervision.
We advise that the Pearson Set Assignment be completed in sessions that come to a total of 2
hours. The Pearson Set Assignment should not be shared with learners prior to the start of the
assessment period. Teachers/tutors are responsible for security of the Pearson Set Assignment
and materials.
Outcomes for submission
Learners may submit handwritten or word-processed evidence. Drawings and diagrams must
be completed in pencil.
Learners will need to have access to a non-programmable calculator that does not have the
facility for symbolic algebraic manipulation or to allow the storage and retrieval of
mathematical formulae.
Learners will need access to the Information Booklet of Formulae and Constants.
Learners must submit their own, independent work as detailed in the Set Assignment.
Each learner must complete an authentication sheet.

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 1
Instructions to learners

Read the Set Assignment carefully.

You will be asked to carry out specific activities using the information provided. You will be
given a specific time period to complete the assignment.

You must work independently at all times and must not share your work with other learners.
You must complete an authentication sheet and submit it along with your work.

You should show all of your working when completing calculations.

Set Assignment

You must complete ALL activities.

We advise that you spend 2 hours.

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 2
ACTIVITY 1

1. The graph shows the results of two engineering investigations:

(a) From the graph, find the intersection of line 1 and line 2.

(b) Use the graph to find the value of the gradient of line 1.

(c) Use the graph to find the value of the gradient of line 2 and hence the equation of
the line.

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 3
2. The image shows a plumb bob made from an unknown material.

(a) Calculate the length of the side of the cone.

(b) Calculate the total surface area of the plumb bob.

(c) The cost of manufacturing a plumb bob can be calculated using the formula:

Cost = 10t2 + 4mt + 2t

Where t is the time taken (in seconds) for machining the plumb bob and m is the cost of the
material.

Simplify the expression in its simplest form.

(d) If the overall cost of manufacturing one plumb bob is 12 and the cost of the material is
2, calculate the amount of time taken to manufacture one plumb bob.

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 4
3. A piece of plate metal has been cut to make a platform to link two walkways.

Use the information in the diagram to find:

(a) the area of one side of the plate

(b) the length of the curved edge of the plate

(c) the total length of the edges of the plate.

The plate metal is 25 mm thick.

(d) Calculate the volume of the platform.

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 5
The platform has supports that are fixed to both a wall and the ground, as shown.

platform

Using the information in the diagram, you need to calculate:

(e) the angle θ

(f) the length of side A

(g) the length of side B

(h) the height above the ground of the platform.

This activity covers learning aim A and assessment/grading criteria:

A.P1, A.P2, A.M1, A.D1

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 6
ACTIVITY 2

1. The diagram shows a simply supported beam. The beam is in equilibrium.

Using the information in the diagram, calculate:

(a) the loading on the beam that results from the UDL

(b) the reaction forces at points A and B.

The beam is supported on two columns at points A and B as shown. The cross-sectional area
of each column is shown below.

(c) Calculate the direct stress in column A as a result of the loading.

(d) Explain what would happen to the beam if the load at point C was increased to 20 kN.

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 7
2. The diagram shows a hammer that is dropped onto a pile.

The hammer is released from rest.

(a) Calculate the velocity of the hammer when it hits the pile.

(b) Calculate the kinetic energy of the hammer when it hits the pile.

The hammer has a mass of 500 kg and the pile has a mass of 290 kg.

The hammer does not rebound when it hits the pile.

(c) Calculate the velocity of the pile immediately after the hammer hits it.

(d) Calculate the resistive force of the ground if the pile is driven 150 mm into the ground.

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 8
3. A retaining wall is used to separate sea water from fresh water.

The retaining wall is 12 m wide.

Assume the density of sea water is 1030 kg/m3 and the density of fresh water is 1000
kg/m3.

(a) Calculate the resultant overturning moment of the wall about its base.

A cylinder of an unknown material is floating in the fresh water.

The cylinder has a volume of 1.2 m3. 5 kg of water are displaced by the cylinder.

(b) Calculate the density of the unknown material.

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 9
4. The diagram shows a load being raised by a motor and winch.

The original length of the rope between the load and the motor is 4.8 m. When the motor
starts to turn, the rope stretches to 4.92 m.

(a) Calculate the strain in the rope.

The coefficient of friction of the slope is 0.2. The mass of the load is 375 kg.

(b) Calculate the frictional resistance force.

(c) Calculate the work done in moving the load 1.8 m along the slope.

(d) The angle of the slope is changed to 25º. Explain how this would affect the frictional
force.

This activity covers learning aims B, C and D and assessment/grading criteria:

B.P3, B.P4, B.M2, C.P5, C.P6, C.M3, D.P7, D.P8, D.M4, BCD.D2

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 10
 Pearson BTEC Level 3 International
Qualifications in Engineering

Engineering
Unit 1: Mechanical Principles
Source Booklet of Formulae and Constants

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 11
Formulae and Constants
Maths

Trigonometric rules

b C
a

A B
c

Sine rule
a b c Sin A Sin B Sin C
= = or = =
Sin A Sin B Sin C a b c

Cosine rule
a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc Cos A

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 12
Volume and area of regular shapes

s
θ

Length of an arc of a circle s = rθ (where θ is expressed in radians)

V = π r2 h
TSA = 2 π rh + 2 π r2

Volume of a sphere V = 4 π r3
3
Surface area of a sphere SA = 4 π r2

Turn over
BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 13
 l h

Volume of a cone V = 1 π r2 h
3
Curved surface area of cone CSA = π r l

Quadratic Formula

To solve ax2 + bx + c = 0, a ≠ 0

x = –b ± √b – 4ac
2

2a

g = 9.81m/s2

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 14
Equations of linear motion with uniform acceleration
v = final velocity, u = initial velocity, a = acceleration, t = time and s = distance
v = u + at
1
s = ut + 2 at2
v2 = u2 + 2as
s = 2 (u + v)t or s = u + v t
1
2

Stress and strain

Direct stress σ= F
A

Direct strain ε = Δl
l

Shear stress τ= F
A

Shear strain γ= a
b

Young’s Modulus (modulus of elasticity) E = σε

τ
Modulus of rigidity G= γ

F = ma
Fx = F cosθ, Fy = F sinθ
Where θ is measured from the horizontal
Mechanical work W = Fs
Mechanical power P = Fv, P = W
t
Pout
Mechanical Efficiency Efficiency (η) =
P in
Force to overcome limiting friction F = µN
(where N is the normal force)
Gravitational potential energy PE = mgh
Kinetic energy KE = 1
2 mv
2

Turn over
BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 15
Angular parameters
v²
Centripetal acceleration a = ω²r or a =
r
Power P = Tω
Rotational inertia I = k m r2
T he inertial constant for a solid
cylinder (flywheel) k = 1 and for a thin
2
walled hollow cylinder k ≈ 1 (along the
axis of rotation).
1
Rotational kinetic energy KE = Iω2
2
Angular frequency ω = 2 πf
1
Frequency f=
time period
360 θ(radians)
Radians to degrees conversion θ(degrees) =
2π
where 2π radians = 360°
2 π θ(degrees)
Degrees to radians conversion θ(radians) =
360

Fluid principles
Continuity of volumetric flow A1v1 = A2v2
Continuity of mass flow ρA1v1 = ρA2v2
Hydrostatic thrust on an immersed plane surface F = ρgAx
m
Density ρ=
V

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 16
 Marker Sheet – Routine/non-routine requirements

This Marker Sheet should be used in conjunction with Unit 1. This sheet indicates
whether a learner solution should be using routine or non-routine methods. These
terms and their application are explained in the Unit 1 Essential Information for
Assessment Decisions section.

ACTIVITY 1

Question Type

1 (a) routine

(b) routine

(c) routine

routine

2 (a) non-routine

(b) non-routine

(c) non-routine

3 (a) routine

(b) routine

(c) routine

(d) routine

(e) routine

(f) non -routine

(g) non-routine

(h) non-routine

BTEC International Level 3 Sample Pearson Set Assignment Unit 1 – Issue 1 April 2020 17