Part of the apparatus you will use is shown below. If mi is released the system

Question

Part of the apparatus you will use is shown below. If mi is released the system will accelerate. Assume the pulley is massless and frictionless, which means it has no effect on the motion and can be ignored. Also ignore frictional forces acting on both masses. Draw a free body diagram for both m_1 and m_2. Draw arrows for each force acting on the masses, and label the forces. Assuming the string does not stretch how are the accelerations of m_1 and m_2 related? Use common sense reasoning in answering this question. The string exerts forces on m_1 and m_2. What is the relationship between these two forces as predicted by Newton's 3^rd law? Apply Newton's second law to each mass, eliminate the tension T, and determine the acceleration of the system - show all your work for credit.

Explanation / Answer

for the mass m1

Tension T in the force acting

T = m1*a .............(1)

for m2

T is in upwards

Fg = m*g in downwards

net force = Fg - T = m2*a

m*g - T = m2*a ...........(2)

from 1 & 2

m2*g - m1*a = m2*a

a = m2*g/(m1+m2) <<----------answer

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