Question

A cart on a surface with a coefficient of friction of 0.20 is attached to an overhanging weight with a frictionless pulley. The cart has a mass of 2.5 kg while the overhanging weight has a mass of 1.0 kg.

What is the acceleration of the cart?

What is the tension in the cord used to pull the cart?

Please help ASAP, thanks.
bobpursley
well, look at the net accelerating force.

Net accelerating force=totalmass*a
1kg*9.8-.2*2.5*9.8=(3.5kg)a
solve for acceleration.

Tension? Look at the tension pulling the cart: Tension= ma+friction=2.5*a+.2*2.5*9.8

check all that against your force diagram. If you wish, compare it with the tension at the other end holding the falling weight: T=(mg-ma)=
T=9.8N-1*a

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