About this previous year paper
SECTION A — Short Descriptive Paragraph Required
contains basic mechanics terms like collinear vs concurrent forces, limiting angle of friction, angle of repose, types of beams, mass moment vs area moment, polar moment, D’Alembert’s principle, relative velocity, longitudinal stress, and shaft application.
Each answer should be written as one small paragraph, clearly explaining the concept.
Extra sample questions:
Explain equilibrium of forces in a short paragraph.
Describe free body diagram in 4–5 lines.
Explain centroid of a plane lamina briefly.
SECTION B — Medium-Length Descriptive Paragraph Required
contains descriptive or numerical questions such as forces in strings, truss member forces, moment of inertia of T-section, particle motion (velocity & acceleration), and simple bending theory.
Each answer should be one clear paragraph describing the steps, reasoning, or concept.
Extra sample questions:
Explain the concept of resolving forces in a paragraph.
Describe parallel axis theorem in one descriptive paragraph.
Explain the significance of bending stress distribution.
SECTION C — Long Descriptive Paragraph Required
contains long questions involving equilibrium of force systems, shear force and bending moment diagram, mass moment of inertia derivations, shaft torsion, friction problems, and beam theory.
Each answer must be a long, continuous paragraph explaining derivation, method, or numerical steps in full detail.
Extra sample questions:
Explain the procedure for drawing a shear force diagram for any loaded beam.
Describe work-energy principle in a long descriptive paragraph.
Explain the full derivation of centroid of a composite section.