Question

As part a of the drawing shows, two blocks are connected by a rope that passes over a set of pulleys. One block has a weight of m1 = 562 N, and the other has a weight of m2 = 758 N. The rope and the pulleys are massless and there is no friction.

(a) What is the acceleration of the lighter block?


(b) Suppose that the heavier block is removed, and a downward force of 758 N is provided by someone pulling on the rope, as part b of the drawing shows. Find the acceleration of the remaining block.


(c) Explain why the answers in (a) and (b) are different.