Motion And Force

Question 1

What is the fundamental function of any mechanical system?

Answer 1

To transfer force and motion by taking some set of input force and motion, and transforming this into a different output force and/or motion

Question 2

What is mechanical power?

Answer 2

A combination of force of motion

Question 3

What is the difference between kinetics and kinematics?

Answer 3

Kinetics is the study of forces in mechanical systems whereas kinematics is the study of motion

Question 4

What are the 6 degrees of freedom?

Answer 4

Represents the ways in which an object can move

It can translate along each of the 3 axes and it can rotate about each of the 3 axes

Question 5

What are spatial mechanisms?

Answer 5

Mechanisms that move in 3 dimensions

Question 6

What are planar mechanisms?

Answer 6

Mechanisms analysed in 2 dimensions

For planar mechanisms, there are just 3 degrees of freedom: translation along the x and y axis and rotation about the z axis

Question 7

Define velocity and its units

Answer 7

The rate at which an object moves between two positions

V = distance moved along axis / time taken

Metres per second (m/s)

Question 8

Define acceleration and its units

Answer 8

Measures the rate of change of velocity

a = change in velocity / time taken

metres per second squared (m/s^2)

Question 9

What is reciprocating motion?

Answer 9

uninterrupted movement in a straight line backwards and forwards between two points in a regular cycle

Velocity and acceleration are constantly changing

Question 10

In terms of reciprocating motion:

Define ‘throw’ and ‘period’

Answer 10

The throw of the motion is the distance between two extreme positions

The period of the cycle is the length of time it takes to complete one full cycle from one extreme to the other and back again