Question

a 5.00kg object placed on a frictionless horizontal table is connected to a string tat passes over a pulley and then is fastened to a hanging 9.00kg object.Find the acceleration of the two objects and the tension in the string.

Answer 1

The two objects accelerate at the same rate. Write and solve two simultaneous F = ma equations, one for each. You should end up with

a = (9-5)/(9+5) * g = 2g/7 = 2.8 m/s^2

T = 5 kg *a = 14.0 N

Answer 2

I mistakenly wrote the equation for the acceleration with two vertically hanging weights on a pulley. With one weight on a frictionless horizontal table, it accelerates faster.

Let M1 = 5 kg and M2 = 9 kg
and T = string tension

T = M1*a
M2*g -T = M2*a
M2*g = (M1 + M2) a
a = M2*g/(M1+M2) = 6.3 m/s^2

T = M1*a = 31.5 N

Answer 3

Student