Consider two masses m1 and m2 connected by a thin string. Assume the following values: m1 = 4.18 kg and m2 = 1.00 kg. Ignore friction and mass of the string.

Question

1) what is the acceleration of the 2 masses?
2)What should be the value of mass m1 to get the largest possible value of acceleration of the two masses? What would be the value of that maximum acceleration?

Answer 1

1) The acceleration of the two masses is equal to the acceleration due to gravity, which is 9.8 m/s2.

2) The value of mass m1 to get the largest possible value of acceleration of the two masses is infinity. The maximum acceleration would be 9.8 m/s2.