A block of mass m1=3.70kg on a frictionless plane inclined at angle 30 deg is connected by a cord over a massless, frictionless pulley to a second block mass m2= 2.30kg. What is...

Question

a) The magnitude of the acceleration of each block?
b) The direction of the acceleration of the hanging block?
c) The tension in the cord?

Answer 1

LOL - I guess unless the string breaks they better have the same acceleration

force of m1 down slope =
3.7 g sin 30 = 1.85 g

force of m2 the other way = 2.3 g

net force = (2.3 -1.85)g
= .45 * 9.81 = 4.41 N block 2 wins and heads straight down, block 1 heads up slope

a = 4.41 /(3.7+2.3) = .736

block 1 up, block 2 down

look at block 2
2.3 a = 2.3(9.81) - T
T = 2.3 (9.81 -.736)

T = 20.9 Newtons tension

Answer 2

This didn't work for me!!!!