masses & pulley (atwood)

Question

In a light frictionless pulley system, masses 3 kg and 7 kg are released from rest. Acceleration of system (g = 10 m/s²)?

RankGuru · Accepted Answer

1. **Basic Atwood Machine**: Total unbalanced force is the difference in weights: $(m_2 - m_1)g$.
2. **System Mass**: Total mass being accelerated is $(m_1 + m_2)$.
3. **Formula**: Using $a = \frac{F_{net}}{M_{total}}$:
   - $a = \frac{(m_2 - m_1)g}{m_1 + m_2}$
4. **Calculation**:
   - $a = \frac{(7 - 3) 	imes 10}{7 + 3}$
   - $a = \frac{40}{10} = 4 	ext{ m/s}^2$.
5. **Direction**: The 7 kg mass moves down, and the 3 kg mass moves up with this acceleration.

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masses & pulley (atwood)

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