BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY:
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
BNPWE1
MECHANICS OF MACHINES 1
MODULE CODE: MCHM101
PRACTICAL REPORT
2023 SEMESTER 2
Name of Practical:___________________
Group Number:_____________
Board Number:_____________
Date of Practical:___________
No. Student Name Student Number Signature
1 Kwanele Thusi(6A) 22358125
2 Mandisa Ntombela 22359256
3 Lungelo Nzuza(1A) 21852447
4 Zinzi Zinya (7A) 22383354
6 Nothando Mbambo(7A) 22383440
I. INTRODUCTION
1. AIM
[1]1The aim of this experiment was to analyse and study the effects of acceleration and
friction on bodies of different masses on flat and inclined surface. In the report, a series of
calculations are going to be performed to prove the result that were achieved in the lab. The
expected outcomes are to get the result that are close or approximately the same with those
result which were obtained when the experiment was conducted in the lab. By making use of
free body diagrams, it can explain all the various forces acting on each of the bodies. [2]
Reference to R.S Khurmi’s textbook, “A Textbook of Engineering Machines” has been used
throughout this experiment.
2. EQUIPMENT
Apparatus Function
1 Trolley Used to carry and move the blocks. It has a
known mass and it is connected to a fixed
pulley by a string that goes over a pulley
2 Wooden blocks Used to observe which force will make them
fall forward. They are of various masses and
they are added to the trolley.
3 Cast iron table Acts as the surface that can also be tilted to
any desired angle.
4 Weights They are added at the end of the string to
move the trolley and the blocks.
5 Pen Used to take down results and notes.
6 Paper Keeps records of the measurements and
results.
3. METHOD
1
[2]
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From our first experiment, block A was placed on top of block B which was placed along the
horizontal plane. From the experiment, when placing weights of 3 and 4 Newtons we
witnessed the blocks move along the plane, but not tipping of block A was seen. This was
only witness at 5 Newtons.
The second experiment required us to place block C on the trolley on the horizontal plane and
record at what force will block C tip over. Starting at 3N, no slip was witnessed as well as for
the 4 and 5 Newton weights. It was only at 6N where we experienced a tipping in block C.
A third experiment was done, were block C from the 2nd experiment was replaced with block,
which has a significantly less mass of 289g of block C. In this experiment, block D was
placed on the incline and 6N were placed on the pully. What was noted from the experiment
was that block D did not slip at the 6N weight, whereas block C did at the exact same weight.
Lastly, an experiment was conducted similar to experiment 3, however, the horizontal plane
was then inclined up to 10o. It was observed that without block D on the trolley, 5N was
needed to be added to the pully in order for the trolley to not move up the incline plane. The
trolley was at equilibrium at 5N. Then block D was placed on the trolley and more weights
were added. From 5-7 Newtons, no tipping took place, but was eventually witnessed at 8N.
4. ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
Centre of Gravity for Block A:
C.O.GAX = Thickness / 2 C.O.GAY = Height / 2 C.O.GX = (0.023 ; 0.056)
= 0.046 / 2 = 0.112 / 2
=0.023m = 0.056m
Centre of Gravity for Block C:
C.O.GCX = Thickness / 2 C.O.GCY= Height / 2 C.O.GY = (0.0225 ; 0.1)
= 0.045 / 2 = 0.2 / 2
= 0.0225 m = 0.1 m
Centre of Gravity for Block D:
C.O.GDX = Thickness / 2 C.O.GDY = Height / 2
= 0.048 / 2 = 0.155 / 2
= 0.024 m = 0.0775 m
i. Mag = ( ma + mb )(g(x/y) + g.tanm) / 1- (x/y)
= ( 0.158 + 0.232)[9.81(0.035 / 0.056) + 9.81(0.3)]/ 1- (0.035 / 0.056)
= 4.61N
ii. Mcg = (mc)(g(x/y) + g.tanm) / 1-(x/y)
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= (0.812)[9.81(0.0225/0.1) + 9.81(0.3)] / 1-(0.0225 / 0.1)
= 5.39N
5. DISCUSSION
Finding the tipping force is bit complex when calculating, but the free body diagrams made
things a lot easier and more understandable. A free body diagram was drawn for each block
and was analysed. The forces were then assigned for each block with their magnitude and
directions clearly shown.
Using the forces from the free body diagrams, equations were developed using the given data
for each block, the Centre of Gravity was calculated for each block, since the coordinates will
be used in one of the developed equations. The tipping force for block A was then calculated
for its C.O.G were used.
Fa = mgx / y
C.O.GAX = Thickness / 2 C.O.GAY = Height / 2 C.O.GX = (0.023 ; 0.056)
= 0.046 / 2 = 0.112 / 2
=0.023m = 0.056m
Mag = ( ma + mb )(g(x/y) + g.tanm) / 1- (x/y)
= ( 0.158 + 0.232)[9.81(0.035 / 0.056) + 9.81(0.3)]/ 1- (0.035 / 0.056)
= 4.61N
Mcg = (mc)(g(x/y) + g.tanm) / 1-(x/y)
= (0.812)[9.81(0.0225/0.1) + 9.81(0.3)] / 1-(0.0225 / 0.1)
= 5.39N
The practical force is somehow bigger than the calculated force. The cause of this is that the
practical force that was applied had 1 Newton. Maybe this would have been seen if the force
that was applied was applied using the 0.5N. The forces are somehow similar there’s only a
slight difference since one tipping force was calculated and the other was determined
practical so there is a percentage error.
Based on our results it can be seen that when the 1st experiment was done, our experiment
showed that block A should slip at 4.61N. According to our calculations, block A did not slip
at 4N but did slip at 5N, making our experiment a success for the 1st experiment.
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Regarding the second experiment, our calculated results show that, block C has a tipping
force of 5.39 Newtons. According to the recorded results of the experiment that tipping off
blocks, C was not seen at three to five newtons but was seen at 6 newtons, which makes this
experiment true.
In the third experiment, it was showed that at the same rate of five newtons acting on the
horizontal plane, block C would tip but block D would not. This occurred due to block D
having a significantly lower centre of gravity, causing it to require a greater force to achieve
tipping.
Lastly, it was seen that block D would tip over if the plane was inclined to 10 degrees and a
force of eight newtons was applied.
6. CONCLUSION
Based on the calculations above, it is safe to say that the experiment was a success overall.
This experiment was done through understand Newton’s second law and how the trolley will
respond to different masses by using two different methods and get similar answers. In the
data above the two methods that were used, the results came out to be almost close to each
other, this could be due to the angles the experiments was conducted on, and then the second
method was used to find the acceleration by plugging in either method one or method 2. The
free body diagram reflects the assumption and simplifications made in order to analyse the
system. If the body in the question is a satellite in orbit, for example, and all that is required is
to find its velocity, then a single point, may be the best representation. On the other hand, the
brake dive of a wheeled trolley cannot be found from a single point and a sketch with finite
may dimension is required.
Force vectors must be carefully located and labelled to avoid assumptions that presuppose a
result, for example. In the accompanying diagram of a block on a ramp, the exact location of
the resulting normal force off the ramp on the block can only be found after analyzing the
motion or by assuming equilibrium.
In our practical, we can conclude that the trolley depends on the weight that is attached to it
for it to move fast in a way, that it causes the block to move and tip.
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7. REFERENCES
[1] W. H. Grier, “The Mechanics Calculator” 1835
[2] R.S Khurmi, “The Engineering Mechanics” 1976
8. APPENDIX A - DECLARATION OF WORKLOAD BY GROUP MEMBERS
Student A: Provided all the necessary calculations and results.
Student B: Responsible for typing and compiling the practical report.
Student C: Provided the introduction and conclusion of the report.
Student D: Provided the discussion of the report.
Student E: Responsible for jotting down results.
9. APPENDIX B – MARKING RUBRIC
Criteria Max mark Mark
Aim 15
Equipment used 15
Method 20
Results 20
Discussion 15
Conclusion 10
References 5
Total 100
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