(a) Discuss the societal impact of a major national program to develop synthetic fuel (liquid and gaseous) from coal. (It has been estimated that to reach the level of supply equal to the imports from OPEC countries would require over 50 installations, each costing several billion dollars.) (b) Do you feel there is a basic difference in the perception by society of the impact of a synthetic fuel program compared with the impact of nuclear energy? Why?

If you were designing a bumper for a car, would you prefer it to exhibit elastic or plastic deformation? why? consider the functions of a bumper in both a minor "fender-bender" and a major collision.

Aloaded platform of total mass 500 kg is supported by a dashpot and by a set of springs of effective stiffness 72 kn/m. it is observed that when the platform is depressed through a distance x = 12.5 cm below its equilibrium position and then released without any initial velocity; it reaches its equilibrium position in the shortest possible time without overshoot. find the position and velocity of the loaded platform 0.10 sec. after its release. if a further load of 400 kg is added to the platform, find, i) the frequency of damped vibrations, and i) the amplitude of vibration after 2 complete oscillations, given that the initial amplitude is 15 cm.

Shafts are machine elements that are used to a) carry axial loads b) direct shear loads c) transmit power d) rotate at constant speed e) none of the above circular and square shafts subjected to the same torque under the same circum behave a) the same way b) almost the same way