Engineering Mechanics (50 Questions)

1. Which of the following is a scalar quantity?

A) Force
B) Displacement
C) Momentum
D) Work
Answer: D
2. The resultant of two concurrent forces is maximum when the angle between them
is:
A) 0°
B) 90°
C) 180°
D) 45°
Answer: A
3. The moment of a force about a point is equal to:
A) Force × distance perpendicular to the point
B) Force × distance along the line of action
C) Force × radius vector from the point
D) Force × velocity at the point
Answer: A
4. The coefficient of rolling friction is generally:
A) Less than static friction
B) Greater than dynamic friction
C) Greater than static friction
D) Equal to dynamic friction
Answer: A
5. In equilibrium of a body under three coplanar forces, the vector sum of the forces
is always:
A) Maximum
B) Zero
C) Minimum
D) Constant
Answer: B
6. A free-body diagram is drawn to:
A) Determine the support reactions onlyB) Analyze all the forces acting on a body
C) Show only external forces on the body
D) Represent internal forces
Answer: B
7. Which of the following principles is used in virtual work?
A) Work-energy principle
B) Principle of conservation of momentum
C) Principle of superposition
D) Principle of equilibrium
Answer: D
8. In a belt-pulley system, the tension ratio between the tight side and the slack side
depends on:
A) Velocity ratio of the pulley
B) Angle of contact and coefficient of friction
C) Pulley diameter
D) Speed of the belt
Answer: B
9. Which type of friction is observed in a screw jack mechanism?
A) Static friction
B) Dynamic friction
C) Rolling friction
D) Fluid friction
Answer: A
10. The reaction at the supports of a simply supported beam can be determined
using:
A) Lami's theorem
B) Equilibrium equations
C) Varignon’s theorem
D) Principle of moments
Answer: B
11. For a particle moving in a circular path, the centripetal force acts:
A) Tangentially outward
B) Perpendicular to the velocity vector and inward
C) Radially outwardD) Tangentially inward
Answer: B
12. A truss is considered stable if:
A) m = 2j - 3
B) m = 3j - 2
C) m < 2j - 3
D) m > 2j - 3
Where m = number of members and j = number of joints.
Answer: A
13. Which of the following defines impulse?
A) Change in kinetic energy
B) Product of mass and acceleration
C) Integral of force over time
D) Work done by a force
Answer: C
14. The principle of conservation of angular momentum is applicable to:
A) Rigid bodies only
B) Particles only
C) Both rigid bodies and particles
D) Flexible bodies
Answer: C
15. The kinetic energy of a rigid body in plane motion is equal to the sum of:
A) Translational and rotational kinetic energies
B) Translational kinetic energy only
C) Rotational kinetic energy only
D) Translational kinetic energy minus rotational energy
Answer: A
16. The angle of friction is defined as:
A) tan⁻¹(μ)
B) sin⁻¹(μ)
C) cos⁻¹(μ)
D) μ × θ
Answer: A
17. Which of the following is not a type of truss member?
A) Zero-force memberB) Tension member
C) Compression member
D) Torque member
Answer: D
18. The mechanical advantage of a screw jack is given by:
A) Effort/Load
B) Load/Effort
C) Effort/Pitch
D) Pitch/Effort
Answer: B
19. A wedge is primarily used to:
A) Lift heavy loads
B) Split objects apart
C) Change the direction of motion
D) Reduce friction
Answer: B
20. In rolling motion, the point of contact with the surface has:
A) Zero velocity
B) Maximum velocity
C) Velocity equal to angular velocity
D) Negative velocity
Answer: A
21. For equilibrium of a particle under coplanar forces, the number of independent
equations is:
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
Answer: B
22. The work-energy principle states that:
A) Work done = Energy lost
B) Work done = Change in kinetic energy
C) Work done = Change in potential energy
D) Work done = Momentum × time
Answer: B23. Which of the following is a conservative force?
A) Friction
B) Tension in a cable
C) Gravity
D) Air resistance
Answer: C
24. In Lagrange's equation, the generalized coordinates represent:
A) Displacements only
B) Forces only
C) Linear and angular displacements
D) Moments only
Answer: C
25. A force system is in equilibrium when:
A) All forces are parallel
B) The resultant force and resultant moment are zero
C) The sum of horizontal forces equals vertical forces
D) The body is stationary
Answer: B
Engineering Mechanics (Continued, 26–50)
26. If the sum of the forces acting on a body is zero, the body is:
A) In translational equilibrium
B) In rotational equilibrium
C) At rest only
D) Under unbalanced forces
Answer: A
27. The torque acting on a rigid body causes:
A) Translational motion
B) Rotational motion
C) Linear acceleration
D) None of the above
Answer: B
28. The frictional force acting on a body rolling without slipping is:
A) Equal to the normal reaction
B) Greater than the normal reaction
C) Less than the normal reactionD) Zero
Answer: C
29. The mechanical advantage of an inclined plane is given by:
A) Height/Base
B) Base/Height
C) Base/Length
D) Length/Height
Answer: D
30. A system is in dynamic equilibrium when:
A) The net force is zero
B) The system moves with constant acceleration
C) The system moves with constant velocity
D) The net torque is non-zero
Answer: C
31. The reaction at the hinge of a cantilever beam is:
A) Vertical reaction only
B) Horizontal reaction only
C) Vertical, horizontal, and moment reactions
D) Horizontal and vertical reactions only
Answer: C
32. In which case is rolling friction observed?
A) A block sliding on a flat surface
B) A wheel moving on a road
C) A block pushed on a rough surface
D) A body immersed in a fluid
Answer: B
33. When two equal and opposite forces act tangentially on a body, they form a:
A) Couple
B) Torque
C) Resultant force
D) Moment of force
Answer: A
34. In plane motion of a rigid body, which of the following quantities is always
constant for all points on the body?
A) Linear velocity
B) Angular velocityC) Linear displacement
D) Kinetic energy
Answer: B
35. Which of the following is the unit of moment of force?
A) Joule
B) Newton
C) Newton-meter
D) Newton-second
Answer: C
36. The virtual work done by a system in equilibrium is always:
A) Positive
B) Negative
C) Zero
D) Maximum
Answer: C
37. The maximum static friction force that can act on a body is called:
A) Coefficient of friction
B) Limiting friction
C) Sliding friction
D) Dynamic friction
Answer: B
38. The work done by a frictional force is generally:
A) Positive
B) Negative
C) Zero
D) Infinite
Answer: B
39. The center of gravity of a solid hemisphere lies at a distance of:
A) r/2 from the flat surface
B) 3r/8 from the flat surface
C) r/4 from the flat surface
D) 2r/3 from the flat surface
Answer: B
40. A rigid body in plane motion is subjected to:
A) Pure translation onlyB) Pure rotation only
C) A combination of translation and rotation
D) None of the above
Answer: C
41. For a simply supported beam, the maximum bending moment occurs at the:
A) Supports
B) Center of the beam
C) Load application point
D) Point of zero shear force
Answer: D
42. The normal stress on a plane inclined at an angle θ to the axis is given by:
A) σx sin^2θ
B) σx cos^2θ
C) σx cosθ
D) σx sinθcosθ
Answer: B
43. A projectile motion’s horizontal range is maximum when the angle of projection
is:
A) 30°
B) 45°
C) 60°
D) 90°
Answer: B
44. The moment of inertia of a solid cylinder about its longitudinal axis is:
A) ½MR^2
B) MR^2
C)¼MR^2
D) 1/12 MR^2
Answer: A
45. The impulse-momentum principle relates:
A) Impulse with work done
B) Impulse with change in velocity
C) Impulse with change in momentum
D) Impulse with energy lost
Answer: C46. Which of the following is true for a particle under pure translation?
A) All points move along concentric circles
B) All points move along parallel paths
C) Angular velocity is constant
D) Velocity is variable
Answer: B
47. The kinetic energy of a body of mass ‘m’ moving with velocity ‘v’ is given by:
A) ½ mv
B) mv^2
C) ½ mv^2
D) 1/3 mv^2
Answer: C
48. When a particle moves in a circle, the work done by the centripetal force is:
A) Maximum
B) Zero
C) Positive
D) Negative
Answer: B
49. A vehicle moving in a circular path experiences maximum safe speed depending
on:
A) Centripetal force only
B) Centrifugal force and radius of the curve
C) Radius of the curve and coefficient of friction
D) Radius of the curve only
Answer: C
50. If a system is subjected to forces producing linear acceleration, the equation of
motion is governed by:
A) F=ma
B) T=Iα
C) P=mv
D) W=Fd
Answer: A