Question

Four penguins that are being playfully pulled along very slippery (frictionless) ice by a curator. The masses of three penguins and the tension in two of the cords are 1 12 m kg = , 3 15 m kg = , 4 20 m kg = , 2 111TN= , 4 222TN= . Find the penguin mass 2m that is not given.

Answer 1

Answer:

$m_2 = 23 kg$

Explanation:

As we know that the tension in two strings are

$T_2 = 111 N$

$T_4 = 222 N$

now we have

$F_{net} = ma$

so we can say

$(m_1 + m_2)a = T_2$

$(12 + m_2)a = 111$

also we have

$(m_1 + m_2 + m_3 + m_4) a = T_4$

$(12 + m_2 + 15 + 20) a = 222$

now divide two equations

$\frac{222}{111} = \frac{47 + m_2}{12 + m_2}$

$2m_2 + 24 = 47 + m_2$

$m_2 = 23 kg$