Question

An Atwood's machine consists of blocks of masses

m₁ = 12.0 kg

and

m₂ = 22.0 kg

attached by a cord running over a pulley as in the figure below. The pulley is a solid cylinder with mass

M = 7.60 kg

and radius

r = 0.200 m.

The block of mass m₂ is allowed to drop, and the cord turns the pulley without slipping.

Two objects, blocks labeled m₁ and m₂, are connected to a cord which is hung over a pulley connected to the ceiling. The pulley is of mass M and radius r. A block labeled m₁ hangs suspended on the left side of the pulley and the tension in the cord is labeled T₁. A block labeled m₂ hangs suspended on the right side of the pulley at a position lower than m₁ and the tension in the cord is labeled T₂. A vector labeled vector a is to the left of m₁ and points up. A second vector labeled vector a is to the right of m₂ and points down.

(a) Why must the tension T₂ be greater than the tension T₁?

(b) What is the acceleration of the system, assuming the pulley axis is frictionless? (Give the magnitude of

a.

)
m/s²

(c) Find the tensions T₁ and T₂.

T1 =	N
T2 =	N

Answer 1