Newton's 2nd law involving pulley

In summary, the difference in acceleration between two boxes in a pulley system can be caused by the cable pulling at an angle or by the mechanical advantage of the pulley system. The configuration of the ropes plays a crucial role in determining the acceleration of the boxes. In cases where the rope is inextensible, the acceleration of the movable pulley will be half that of the block. However, it is also possible for the acceleration to decrease to one-third, one-fourth, etc. depending on the specific arrangement of the ropes.
  • #1
ysk1
32
1
I came across some questions where one box's magnitude of acceleration differed from another box's magnitude of acceleration. Please explain why and how this can be true.
Thank you.
 
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  • #2
This can happen when the cable is not pulling in line with the box. That is the cable is pulling at some angle with respect to the direction of motion of the box.
 
  • #3
if the rope is extensible can also give u this result rite?
 
  • #4
Depending upon the specific arrangement, not all parts of a pulley system move at the same rate. For example: When a pulley system gives you a mechanical advantage, the applied force must travel a greater distance than the load. If that applied force is given by a hanging box, its acceleration will be greater than the acceleration of the load. (You can figure this out by studying the configuration of the ropes.)
 
  • #5
How could you know which configuration of the ropes will give that condition?
 
  • #6
As an example, conside a block sliding along a plane, a taut rope fixed to it going about a fixed pulley, then downwards and around a movable pulley, the rope then going upwards to be fixed in the ceiling.

In this case, inextensibility of rope requires that the acceleration of the movable pulley is only one-half of the acceleration of the block.
 
  • #7
Can inextensibility of rope also make acceleration of the movable pulley decrease to one-third, one-fourth, etc.?
 

1. What is Newton's 2nd law involving pulley?

Newton's 2nd law involving pulley states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. In simpler terms, the greater the force applied to an object, the greater its acceleration will be, and the more mass an object has, the less it will accelerate.

2. How does a pulley affect the application of Newton's 2nd law?

A pulley can change the direction of the force applied to an object, which can affect the acceleration of the object. For example, a single fixed pulley can change the direction of a downward force to an upward force, making it easier to lift an object with less force.

3. Can a pulley change the magnitude of the force applied to an object?

No, a pulley does not change the magnitude of the force applied to an object. The amount of force required to lift an object remains the same, but the pulley can make it easier to apply the force in a different direction.

4. How does the number of pulleys affect the application of Newton's 2nd law?

The number of pulleys can affect the mechanical advantage of a system, which can impact the force required to lift an object. For example, a system with multiple pulleys can reduce the force needed to lift an object by distributing the weight among multiple ropes.

5. Can friction affect the application of Newton's 2nd law involving pulley?

Yes, friction can impact the application of Newton's 2nd law involving pulley. Friction can cause the ropes to stretch or slip on the pulleys, which can affect the amount of force needed to lift an object and the acceleration of the object.

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