Question

The cement bag shown in the figure has a mass of 50 kg and the small pulley has a mass of 2 kg. If the cement bag is pulled upwards with an acceleration of 2 m/s^2, find the force F pulling the rope.

Answer 1

For the cement bag we can say as per its force diagram we will have

$2F - mg = ma$

here we will have

$m = 50 kg$

$a = 2 m/s^2$

now we will have

$F = \frac{mg + ma}{2}$

now plug in all data

$F = \frac{50(9.8 + 2)}{2}$

$F = 295 N$

so the pulling force will be 295 N