Question

A block with mass ma = 14.0 kg on a smooth horizontal surface is connected by a thin cord that passes over a pulley to a second block with mass mb = 6.0 kg which hangs vertically.determine the magnitude of the acceleration of the system.

Answer 1

We can assume that the horizontal surface has no friction and the pulley is massless. We can use Newton's second law to set up an equation. F = Ma F is the net force M is the total mass of the system a is the acceleration a = F / M a = (mb)(g) / (ma + mb) a = (6.0 kg)(9.80 m/s^2) / (6.0 kg + 14.0 kg) a = 58.8 N / 20 kg a = 2.94 m/s^2 The magnitude of the acceleration of the system is 2.94 m/s^2