A 3.50 kg block on a smooth tabletop is attached by a string to a hanging block of mass 2.80 kg. The blocks are released from rest and allowed to move freely.

Question

1-Is the tension in the string greater than, less than, or equal to the weight of the hanging mass?
2-Find the acceleration of the blocks.
3-Find the tension in the string.

Answer 1

less than, the block is falling, so has to weigh less.

F=ma
2.80=(2.80+3.5)a solve for a

tension=2.80(g-a)