Find the tension in each of the strings shown in the diagram below. The blocks a

Question

Find the tension in each of the strings shown in the diagram below. The blocks are sliding on a frictionless surface and the force (F) pulling on the blocks is 30N

A) Consider all three blocks to be one system of combined mass 10 kg that the 30N force is acting upon. What is the acceleration of the entire system? ___________
B) All three blocks must be moving with the same acceleration (or they would become disconnected). What force must be responsible for moving only a 3 kg object at the acceleration rate determined in part A? I.e., what is the tension between the 2 and 3 kg blocks? _____________
C) Consider that the tension in the string between the 5 kg block and the 2 kg block is actually responsible for the acceleration of the 2 and 3 kg blocks. What force must be responsible for causing the acceleration determined in part A of the combined 2 and 3 kg objects? I.e., what is the tension in the string between the 5 and 2 kg blocks? _____________

Explanation / Answer

A) total mass = 3+2+5 = 10 Kg

F = 30 N

Acceleration = F/m = 30/10 = 3m/s2

B) Force acting only on 3 Kg = tension in string connecting 2 and 3 Kg = mass*a = 3*3 = 9 N

C) Force acting on 3+2 Kg blocks = tension in string connecting 2 and 5 Kg = mass*a = (2+3)*3 = 15 N

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