Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

? asked in Science & MathematicsPhysics · 3 years ago

Physics help?

Two masses are suspended from a pulley as shown in the figure below (the Atwood machine). The pulley itself has a mass of 0.30 kg, a radius of 0.15 m, and a constant torque of 0.35 m·N due to the friction between the rotating pulley and its axle. What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the suspended masses if m1 = 0.30 kg and m2 = 0.70 kg? (Neglect the mass of the string.)

2 Answers

Relevance
  • Ash
    Lv 7
    3 years ago

    Since m₂>m₁, the direction of acceleration, a , will be towards m₂

    The tension in the strings will be

    T₁ = m₁g + m₁a....................(1)

    T₂ = m₂g - m₂a.....................(2)

    Net Torque, τ(net) = I α..............(I = moment of Inertia of pulley and α is angular acceleration)

    Since I = ½m₃r²......where m₃ is mass of pulley and r = radius.............and angular acceleration, α = a/r

    T₂r -T₁r - τ(friction) = (½m₃r²) (a/r)

    r(T₂ -T₁) - 0.35 = ½m₃ra

    T₂ -T₁ - (0.35/r) = ½m₃a

    From (1) & (2), we get

    m₂g - m₂a - m₁g - m₁a - (0.35/0.15) = ½(0.30)a

    (m₂-m₁)g - (m₂+m₁)a - (7/3) = (3/20)a

    (m₂+m₁+ (3/20))a = (m₂-m₁)g - (7/3)

    a = [(m₂-m₁)g - (7/3)] / [(m₂+m₁+ (3/20)]

    a = [0.70-0.30)9.81 - (7/3)] / [(0.70+0.30)+(3/20)]

    a = 1.38 m/s²

  • ?
    Lv 7
    3 years ago

    mass m1 and m2 can be seen by the pulley system as equivalent rotaing masses me1 and me2 worth, respectively 0.60 and 1.40 kg

    motive force Fm = g(m2-m1) = 9.8*0.4 N

    friction torque Tf = 0.35 N*m

    accelerating torque Ta = Fm*r-0.35 = 9.8*0.4*0.15-0.35 = 0.2380 N*m

    total moment of inertia J = (mp+me1+me2)/2*r^2 = (0.30+0.60+1.4)/2*0.15^2 = 0.0259 kg*m^2

    angular acceleration α = Δω/Δt = Ta/J = 0.2380*10^4/259 = 2380/259 = 9.20 rad/sec^2

    tangential acceleration a = α*r = 9.20*0.15 = 1.380 m/sec^2

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.