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Physics help? (highschool level)?
I have a diagram that I can hopefully describe well enough so here it goes:
Two blocks are connected by a tension force the first is 5kg and the second is 10kg. The 5kg block is being pulled the opposite way by 5N and the 10kg is also being pulled away with a 50N force.
Determine the acceleration and tension between the blocks.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Let:
m1 be the mass of the lighter block,
P1 be the force applied to the lighter block,
m2 be the mass of the heavier block,
P2 be the force applied to the heavier block,
T be the tension,
a be the acceleration towards the heavier block.
For m1:
T - P1 = m1 a ...(1)
For m2:
P2 - T = m2 a ...(2)
Adding (1) and (2):
P2 - P1 = (m1 + m2)a
a = (P2 - P1) / (m1 + m2)
= (50 - 5) / (5 + 10)
= 45 / 15
= 3 m/s.
From (1):
T = P1 + m1 a
= [ P1 + m1(P2 - P1) ] / (m1 + m2)
= [ (m1 + m2)P1 + m1(P2 - P1) ] / (m1 + m2)
= (m2 P1 + m1 P2) / (m1 + m2)
= (10 * 5 + 5 * 50) / (5 + 10)
= 300 / 15
= 20 N.