APPLIED MATHEMATICS

MECHANICS

Motion in straight line

1. (a). Consider a particle M moving with initial velocity u ms -1, if M increases speed with uniform
acceleration a ms-2 to new speed V ms-1 in time t s after covering distance s m. Show that;
i . v =u+at
1
ii . s=ut + at 2
2
2 2
iii . v =u + 2as
(b). A, B, C are three points lying on a straight road with AB = 50m and AC = 70m. The average
speed for the whole journey is 4 ms-1. A car moves from A to B at an average speed of 8ms -1, then
B to C in 4 s and then returns to B. Find the
i. average speed of the car in moving from A to C.
ii. time taken by the car to move from A to C.
iii. time taken by the car in moving from C to B
iv. average velocity for the complete motion.
2. A car moves from Kampala to Jinja then 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 80km apart, Find the average speed on the outward journey.
(2009 No.2, ans = 38.05kmh-1)
3. A driver of a car travelling at 72kmh -1 notices a tree which has fallen across the road, 800m
ahead and suddenly reduces the speed to 36kmh -1 by applying the brakes. For how long did the
driver apply the brakes.
(2002 No.3, ans = 53.33s)
4. (a). Show that the final velocity v of a body which starts with an initial velocity u and moves with
uniform acceleration a consequently covering a distance x , is given by
1
v=[ u+2 ax ] 2
(b). Find the value of x in (a) if v = 30ms-1, u = 10ms-1 and a = 5ms-2
(2012 No.4, (b)ans = 80m)
5. A train starts from station A with a uniform acceleration of 0.2 ms -2 for 2 minutes and attains a
maximum speed and moves uniformly for 15 minutes. It is then brought to rest at constant
5
ms−2
retardation of 3 at station B. Find the distance travelled between stations A and B
(2003 No.8 , ans = 23212.8m)
6. A cyclist travelling at a constant speed of 36kmh -1 passes a motor car just as it begins to move in
the same direction. The car maintains an acceleration of 0.4ms -2 for 40 s and then moves
uniformly. Determine the;
i. Distance from the starting point the car will have made before catching up with the
cyclist.
ii. Time taken by the car up to this point.

1 Compiled and Revised by Mbazira Hamisi ([email protected])

 ( mock Entebbe joint examz, 2018 No.7)

7. An overloaded taxi travelling at a constant speed of 90kmh -1 overtakes a stationary traffic police
car. Two seconds later, the police car sets off in pursuit of the taxi accelerating at a rate of 6ms -1.
How long does the traffic car travel before catching up with the taxi?
(1999 No.4 , ans = 300m)
8. A, B and C are points on a straight road such that AB = BC = 20m. A cyclist moving with uniform
acceleration passes A and then notices that it takes him 10s and 15s between A and B, and A and
C respectively.
Find :
i. His acceleration.
ii. The velocity with which he passes A
iii. Further distance he travels before stopping after passing C
iv. Further time spent on the way before stopping after passing C
(2001 No.7, ans i = 0.27ms-2 ii = 0.65ms-1)
9. P, Q and R are points on a straight road such that PQ = 20m and QR = 55m. A cyclist moving
with uniform acceleration passes P and then notices that it takes him 10 s and 15 s to travel
between (P and Q) and (Q and R) respectively. Find his uniform acceleration.
2 −2
ms
(2010 No.2, ans = 15 )
10. A train approaching a station does two successive half-kilometres in 16 s and 20 s respectivey.
Assuming the retardation to be uniform, find the further distance the train runs before stopping.
( ans = 667.4m)
11. A car starting from rest and moving with uniform acceleration, goes 9.5m in the 10 th second
after starting. Find the acceleration of the car and distance covered during 5s from start.
(ans , accn = 1 ms-2 and dist =12.5 m)
12. A particle moving in a straight line travels 16m in the 2 nd second of its motion, 28m in the 5 th
second. Find the distance travelled after 10s. ( ans = 300m)
13. A train starting from rest, accelerates uniformly during the first half kilometer of its motion, then
1
km
runs 1.5km at the uniform speed acquired, and is afterwards brought to rest in 4 under
uniform retardation. If the time taken for the whole journey is 5 minutes, find the uniform
acceleration and uniform retardation. (ans. 0.1 ms-2 and 0.2 ms-2)
14. The speed of the taxi decreased from 90kmh-1 to 18kmh-1 in a distance of 120 metres. Find the
speed of the taxi when it had covered a distance of 50 metres.
(2013 No.3. (ans) speed = 69.714kmh-1 or 19.36ms-1
15. A lorry starts from point A and moves along a straight horizontal road with constant
acceleration of 2 ms-2. At the same time a car moving with a speed of 20ms -1 and a constant
acceleration of 3 ms -2 is 400m behind the point A and moving in the same direction as the
lorry. Find
a. How far from A the car overtakes the lorry.
b. The speed of the lorry when it is being overtaken.
(2014 No. 12 , (a) 214.358m (b) 29.282ms-1)

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 16. Two stations A and B are a distance 6x m apart along a straight track. A train starts from rest at
A and accelerates uniformly to a speed v ms -1, covering a distance of x m. the train then
maintains this speed until it has travelled a further 3x m, it then retards uniformly to rest at B.
Make a sketch of the velocity-time graph for the motion and show that if T is the time taken for
9x
T= sec onds
the train to travel from A to B, then v
17. Two cyclists A and B are 36m apart on a straight road. Cyclist B starts from rest with an
acceleration of 6ms-2 while A is in persuit of B with a velocity of 20ms -1 and acceleration of 4ms-2.
Find the times when A overtakes B.
(2015 No. 4, ans 2s, 18s)
18. A car started from rest, accelerated uniformly for 2 minutes and maintained a speed of 50kmh -1,
Another car started 2 minutes later from the same spot, and this car too is accelerated uniformly
for 2 minutes and it then maintained a speed of 75kmh-1.
i. Draw a velocity – time graph and find when and where the second car overtook the first.
ii. The first car maintained the speed of 50kmh-1 for 10 minutes. It then decelerated
1
2
uniformly for further 2 minutes before coming to rest. How far has the car travelled
from the start? (2007, No. 10 (i) 3min, 5km. (ii) 10.2km)
19. A particle with position vector 4i + 10j + 20k moves with a constant speed of 5ms -1 in the
direction of the vector 4i + 7j + 4k. Find its distance from the origin after 5 seconds.
(1996 No.2 ans = 85m)
20. (a) Find a vector of magnitude 13 units which is parallel to the vactor 8i + 6j

Ans =
(
52 39
5
i+
5
j )
(b). Find the unit vector which makes an angle of 600 with the holizontal.

Ans =
( 1 √3
i+ j
2 2 )
(c). Find the magnitude of the acceleration produced when a body of mass 500g is acted upon
by forces (5i + 3j)N, (6i +4j) and (-7i – 7j)N.
(d). Find the vector force of magnitude 20N which is parallel to a vector force( 2i – 4j + 6k )N.
21. A train moves 3.6km from rest to rest in 3 minutes. The greatest speed is 90kmh -1, and the
acceleration and retardation being uniform. Find the distance travelled at full speed.
22. Two points P and Q are xm apart. A particle starts from rest at a point P and moves directly
towards Q with an acceleration of a ms -2 until it acquires a speed of V ms-1. It maintains this
speed for T seconds and then brought to rest at Q under a retardation of a ms-2. Show that
x v
T= −
v a
23. A car is travelling on a straight road with constant acceleration of a ms -2. When the speed is
u ms-1, the driver sees a tree which fell across the road ahead, the car accelerates for t seconds
( the driver’s time) and them moves with constant retardation f ms -2 until it comes to rest. Show
that the distance dm from the time the speed was u ms-1 is given by

3 Compiled and Revised by Mbazira Hamisi ([email protected])

 2 fd =u2 + 2 ( a+f ) ut + a ( a+ f ) t 2
24. A lift ascends with a constant acceleration a ms -2and then a constant retardation of a ms-2 after
ascending with a constant velocity. If the total distance ascended is s m , and total time is t s.
Show that the time during which the lift is ascending with constant velocity is.

( )
1
2 4s
t − 2
a
25. A particle with position vector 10i + 3j + 5k moves with constant speed of 6 ms -2 in the direction i
+ 2j + 2k. Find its distance from the origin after 3 s. (ans = 27.75m)
26. An object of mass 5kg is initially at rest at a point whose position vector is -2i + j. If it is acted
upon by a force F = 2i +3j – 4k. Find:
i. The acceleration of the object.
ii. Its velocity after 3 seconds.
iii. Its distance from the origin after 3 seconds.

2 3 4 6 9 12
(i) a= i+ j− k (ii) v= i+ j+ k (iii) r=0 . 2i+7 j−3 .6 k
5 5 5 5 5 5
27. A cage goes down a mine shaft 675m deep in 45 s. For the first quarter of the distance only, the
speed is uniformly accelerated and during the last quarter uniformly retarded. The acceleration
and retardation being equal. Find the uniform speed of the cage as it traverses the centre potion
of the shaft. (ans = 22.5ms-1)
28. A force F = (2ti + j – 3tk)N acts acts on a particle of mass 2 kg. The particle is initially at a point
(0, 0, 0) and moving with velocity (i +2j – k)ms-1. Determine the:
a. Magnitude of the acceleration of the particle after 2 seconds
b. Velocity of the particle after 2 seconds
c. Displacement of the particle after 2 seconds
10
( i+ 5 j− 4 k )m
(2019 No.12, i = 3.6401ms-2, ii = (3i + 3j – 4k)ms-1 iii = 3
29. A particle of mass 4 kg starts from rest at a point (2i – 3j + k)m. It moves with acceleration
a = (4i + 2j – 3k)ms-2 when a constant force F acts on it.
Find :
a. Force F.
b. Velocity at any time t.
c. Work done by the force F after 6 seconds.
(2018 No.10. F = (16i + 8j – 12k)N, v = (42ti + 2tj – 3tk)ms-1 , work = 2084 Joules)
30. A particle of mass 3kg is acted upon by a force F = 6i – 36t 2j + 54tk Newton at any time t.At time
t = 0, the particle is at the point with the position vector i – 5j – k m and its velocity is 3i + 3j ms-1.
Determine the :
a. Position vector of the particle at time t = 1 second ( 9 marks)
b. Distance of the particle from the origin at t = 1 second (3 marks)
(2016 No.10, (a) 5i – 3j + 2k m (b) 6.164 m
31. A body of mass 4kg is moving with initial velocity of 5ms -1 on a plane. The kinetic energy of the
body is reduced by 16 joules in a distance of 40m. Find the deceleration of the body.

4 Compiled and Revised by Mbazira Hamisi ([email protected])

 (2016 No.4 , deceleration = -0.1ms-1)
32. A particle starts from rest at the origin (0, 0). Its acceleration in ms -2 at time t seconds is given by
a = 6ti – 4j. Find its speed when t = 2s
(2014 No.4, speed = 14.4222ms-2)
F ,F
33. A particle of mass 2kg moves under the action of three forces 1 2
and F 3 . At a time t.

F 1=
1
4 ( )
t−1 i+ ( t−3 ) j N

1
2 ( 1
) (
F 2= t+ 2 i+ t−4 j N
2 )
1
4 ( 3
) (
F 2= t−4 i+ t+1 j N
2 )
Find the acceleration of the particle when t = 2 seconds
1
a=− i ms−2
(2011 No.2 , 2 )
1
( 3 i+ 4 j )
34. The force A of magnitude 5N acts in the direction with unit vector 5 and force B of
1 12
i− j
magnitude 13N acts in direction with unit vector 5 13 .Find the resultant of forces A and B.
(2008 No.3, Resultant = 8i – 8j N )
35. The initial velocity of a particle moving with constant acceleration is (3i – 5j) ms -1. After 2
seconds the velocity is of magnitude 6 ms-1 and parallel to (i + j). Find the acceleration of the
particle.
(2007 No.8 , a = 0.621i + 4.621j )
36. A train starts from station A with a uniform acceleration of 0.2 ms -2 for 2 minutes and attains a
maximum and moves uniformly for 15 minutes. It is then brought to rest at a constant
5
ms−2
retardation of 3 at station B. Find the distance between stations A and B.
(2003 No.8 , Distance AB = 23212.8 m)
37. A particle with position vector 10i + 3j + 5k moves with constant speed of 6 ms -1 in the direction
i + 2j + 2k. Find its distance from the origin after 5 seconds.
(1997 No.3 , distance = 39.42m )
38. A motor cycle decelerated uniformly from 20 kmh -1 to 8 kmh-1 in travelling 896m. Find the rate of
deceleration in ms-2.
(1998 No.3 , -0.0145 ms-2)
Motion under gravity
1. A stone is thrown vertically upwards with velocity 16 ms -1 from a point H metres above the
ground level. The stone hits the ground 4 seconds later. Calculate the:
i. Value of H
ii. Velocity of the stone as it hits the ground
(2019 No.5 , ans. H = 14.4m, V = 23.2ms-1)
2. A stone is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 21 ms-1
Calculate the:

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 a. Maximum height attained by the stone.
b. Time the stone takes to reach the maximum height.
(2018 No.1, a = 22.5m, b = 2.1429 s)
3. A ball is projected vertically upwards and it returns to its point of projection 3 seconds late. Find
the;
a. Speed with which the ball is projected.
b. Greatest height reached.
( 2016 No.1 (a) Speed = 14.7 ms-1 (b) H = 11.025 m

4
v,
4. A particle is projected vertically upwards from point O with speed 3 After it has travelled a
2
x
distance 5 above O, on its upward motion, a second particle is projected vertically upwards
2
x
from the same point and with same initial speed. Given that the particles collide at height 5
above O, x and v being constants, show that
2
i. At maximum height H, 8 v =9 gH
ii. When the particles collide 9 x=20 H
(1998 No.15a)
5. A brick is projected vertically upwards with a velocity 10.2 ms-1. Find
i. Time taken to reach height of 10m above point of projection.
ii. Time taken to reach maximum height.
iii. Time of flight.
6. A particle is projected vertically upwards with a velocity of 34.3 ms -1. Find how long after
projection the particle is at a height of 49m above the point of projection for;
i. The first time
ii. The second time (i = 2s, ii = 5s)
7. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a velocity of 14.7ms -1 from a platform 19.6m above level
ground. Find:
i. The time taken by the ball to reach the ground.
ii. The velocity of the ball when it hits the ground ( i = 4s, ii = -24.5 or 24.5ms-1
downwards)
8. A brick is thrown vertically downwards from the top of a building and has an initial velocity of
2
19 m
-1
1.5ms . If the height of the building is 7 , Find :
a. The velocity with which the brick hits the ground.
b. The time taken for the brick to fall. ( v = 19.5ms-1 , t = 1.84 s )
9. A stone is thrown vertically upwards with a speed of 20ms -1 from a point at a height h metres
above the ground level. If the stone hits the ground 5 seconds later , find h.
10. A ball is thrown vertically downwards from the top of a tower and has an initial speed of 4 ms -1.
Find the :
a. Height of the tower

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 b. Speed with which the ball strikes the ground
11. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with speed 28 ms -1 from a point which is 1 metre above
ground level. Find :
a. The speed the ball will have when it returns to the level from which it was projected.
b. The height above ground level of the highest point reached.

12. A ball is held 1.6 m above a concrete floor and released. The ball hits the floor and rebounds with
half the speed it had just prior the impact. Find the greatest height the ball reaches after:
i. the first bounce
ii. the second bounce
13. If a stone falls past a window 2.45m in 0.5 seconds. Find the height from which the stone fell.
14. A bomb is thrown vertically downwards past a building 400m high in 8s. Find the height between
the point where the bomb was thrown and the top of building.
15. A block falls from a mast-head and is observed to take 0.4 s in falling from the deck to the
bottom of the hold, a distance of 7.5m. Calculate the height of the mast-head above the deck.
16. A bullet is fired vertically up wards with a velocity of 35 ms -1. Find the distance it ascends during
the third second of its motion.
17. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a speed of 42 ms -1. Find where it is after 5s, and the total
distance it has actually travelled if it falls past the point of projection into a well of depth 70m,
find when it strikes the bottom.
18. Two objects are dropped from the top of a building of height H. The second object is dropped
when the first has travelled a distance D. Prove that the second object is at a distance
( 2 √ HD−D ) above the first one when the first object strikes the ground.
19. A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a speed of u ms-1 from a point h metres above the

[ ( )]
1
u 2 hg
t= 1+ 1+ 2 2
g u
ground. Prove that the time taken to strike the ground is
20. A particle is projected vertically upwards with a velocity of u ms -1and after an interval of t
seconds another particle is projected vertically upwards from the same point with the same
initial velocity. Prove that;
t u
+
a. The particles will meet after an elapse of 2 g seconds

4 u 2−g2 t 2
b. The particles will meet at a height of ; 8g metres

1
gt
c. Their velocities when meeting will be each 2 ms-1

21. A stone is projected vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 28 ms -1. Find the height to which
the stone rises. Another stone is projected vertically upwards 2 s after the first with an initial
velocity of 21 ms-1. Find when the two bodies are at the same height and also the velocity of
each body at this instant. (4.9s and 2.9s)

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 22. A man on top of a tower 35m high holds his arm over the side of the tower and throws a stone
vertically downwards with speed of 14 ms-1. Find :
a. The height above the ground reached by the stone.
b. The speed of the stone when it reaches the ground.
c. The time that the stone was in the air.
( more questions solve Humphrey Examples 2.2 page 61, Understanding mechanics pg 31)
23. A particle is projected vertically upwards with velocity of 10 ms -1. After 2 s another particle is
projected vertically upwards from the same point and with the same initial velocity. Find the
height above the particles meet. (height = 0.20604 m)
Motion under gravity on inclined plane
24. A particle is projected up an inclined plane which falls 1 in 36 with a velocity of 20 ms-1.
i. How far up the plane, the particles goes before coming to rest.
ii. The time taken by the particle before it comes to rest. ( i= 734.69m, ii =73.469s)
25. A particle is projected with a velocity of 20 ms -1 up a smooth inclined plane of inclination 30 0.
Find the distance described up the plane and the time that elapses before it comes to rest.
26. A particle sliding down a smooth plane 3.6m long, acquired a velocity of 6 ms -1 from rest. Find
the inclination of the plane.
27. A particle slides from rest down an inclined plane which is 12m long and 2.7m high. What is its
velocity on reaching the bottom of the plane. How long does it take to get there ?
Resultant and components of forces
Parallelogram law of forces
1. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of forces of 8N and 3N if the angle between
the two forces is;
a. 60 0
b. 50 0
c. 160 0
2. Find the angle between the given forces
a. 6N and 5N whose resultant is 9N
b. 10N and 4N whose resultant is 8N
3. The angle between a force of 6N and XN is 90 0. If the resultant of the two forces is 8N. Find the
value of X.
4. The sum of two forces is 24N and their resultant which is at right angle to the smaller of the two
forces is 12N. Find the magnitudes of the two forces and angle between them.
( Smaller force = 9N , Bigger force = 15N)
5. Two forces, P and Q are such that the sum of their magnitudes is 45N. The resultant of P and Q is
perpendicular to P and has a magnitude of 15N. Calculate;
i. The magnitude of P and Q.
ii. The angle between P and Q
( P = 20N and Q = 25N )
6. The angle between a force of RN and 3N is 120 0. If the resultant of the two forces is 7N, find the
value of R.
7. The angle between a force of KN and 8N is 45 0. If the resultant of the two forces is 15N , Find the
value of K.
0
8. Forces of 7N and 4N act away from a common point and make an angle of α with each other .
given that the magnitude of their resultant is 10.75N, find the;

8 Compiled and Revised by Mbazira Hamisi ([email protected])

 a. Value of α
b. Direction the resultant
0
( 2013 No.6 , α =25 . 5 , direction of resultant = 9.20360 with the 7N force)

Resultant of forces by resolving forces

1. Forces of 6N and 8N act on a particle at angle of 38 0 between them. Find the resultant of these
forces by resolving forces.
2. Forces of 10N and 4N act on a particle at angle of of 150 0 between them. Find the resultant of
these forces by resolving forces.
When directions of forces Are specified
1. Forces of 3N and 7N act on a particle in the directions 330 0 and 00 respectively. Find the
magnitude and direction of the resultant force.
2. Forces of 2N, 3N, 4N, 5N, 6N and 8N act on the particle in the directions 090 0, 0300, 1200, 2100,
3300, and 0000 respectively. Find the magnitude and direction of resultant force.
3. Forces of 1N, 5N, 2N, 7N, 3N, 8N, 4N and 6N act on a particle in the directions -30 0, 00, 2700, 900,
1500, 1800, -500 and 2100. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force.
4. Forces of 5N, 2N, 9N, 10N, 3N, 7N, 8N, 6N, 11N and 4N act on a particle in the directions 90, 150,
0, 180, 270, 330, 45, 30, -15 and 20 respectively. Find a single force that can keep this system of
forces in equilibrium hence find its direction.
5. Forces of 6N, 5N, 8N, 3N, 9N, 2N and 4N act on a particle in the directions N30 0E, N300W, S500W,
N800E, N600E, N600W and S200E respectively. Find the additional force that will keep the system
of forces in equilibrium and find its direction.
All questions
1. Four forces ai + (a – 1)j, 3i + 2aj ,5i – 6j and –I – 2j act on a particle. The resultant of the forces
makes an angle of 450 with the horizontal. Find the value a, hence determine the magnitude of
the resultant force.
(a = 8, resultant force = 21.2N, 1999, No.2 )
2. (a). A particle of mass 3Kg is attached to the lower end B of an inextensible string. The upper
end A of the string is fixed to a point on the ceiling of a roof. A horizontal force of 22N and an
upward vertical force of 4.9 N act upon the particle making it to be in equilibrium, with the
string making an angle α with the vertical. Find the value of α and the tension in the string.

(Ans: tension = 33N, α = 450 )

(b). A non – uniform rod of mass 9Kg rests horizontally in equilibrium supported by two light
inextensible strings tied to the ends of the rod. The strings make angles of 500 and 600 with the
rod. Calculate the tensions in the strings. (Ans: 46.92N and 60.34 N, 2002, no.12)

9 Compiled and Revised by Mbazira Hamisi ([email protected])

 √
3. ABCD is a square of side a. Forces of magnitude 2N, 1N, 2 N and 4N act along AB, BC, AC and
DA respectively. The directions being in the order of letters. Find the magnitude and direction of
the resultant force. (Ans: 3.6056N, 33.69° with AB downwards , 2003, No.3 )
4. Two forces of magnitude 12N and 9N act on a particle producing an acceleration of 3.65 ms-2.
The forces act at an angle of 600 to each other. Find the mass of the particle.
(Ans: mass = 5kg, 2004, No.6)

5. Forces of magnitude 3N, 4N, 4N, 3N and 5N act along the lines AB, BC, CD, DA and AC
respectively of the square ABCD whose side has a length of a units. The direction of the forces
are indicated by the order of the letters.
(a). find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force
(Ans: 5.196 N, 60.8°)
(b)if the line of action of the resultant force cuts AB produced at E, find the length AE
(Ans: 1.76a) (2009, No.12)
1
6. The force A of magnitude 5N acts in the direction with unit vector 5 (3i + 4j )And force B of
1 12
i− j
magnitude 13N acts in direction with unit vector 5 13 Find the resultant of forces A and
B. (Ans: 8i – 8j N, 2008, No.3)

10 Compiled and Revised by Mbazira Hamisi ([email protected])