A slightly complex pully problem missing the final step

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving a pulley system with two masses, M1 and M2. Participants are exploring the relationships between tensions in the system and the forces acting on the masses.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to derive expressions for tensions and accelerations in the system. There is uncertainty regarding the relationship between the total tension To and the individual tensions T1 and T2. Some participants are questioning the assumptions about how the weights are supported by the pulley system.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with various interpretations of the tension relationships being explored. Some participants have offered suggestions for analyzing the forces acting on the pulleys, while others have expressed confusion about the figures and relationships presented in the problem.

Contextual Notes

There appears to be ambiguity regarding the setup of the problem, particularly in how the tensions relate to the weights of the masses and the configuration of the pulley system. Participants are also noting discrepancies in the figures referenced.

Rubberduck2005
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Homework Statement
We have a pully system matching the figure find the tension To using the fact that To=T1 +T2 = T2
Relevant Equations
A1 and A2 are defined to be downward
pulley image.png

so I have already done most the work in finding the following things M1A1=M1g-T1, M2A2=M2g-T2 T2=2T1 M2A2=M2g-T2 and then through further working out(use of the invariance of length of L1 and L2 the strings attached to M1 and M2 then finding A1=-2A2) A1=2g(2M1-M2)/(4M1+M2) and A2=g(M2-2M1)/(4M1+M2) Now my main ambiguity comes from the questions suggestion of the fact that To=T1+T2=2T I am not sure how this can be true can someone give me some advice please
 
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The weight of m1 + m2 is supported by two anchors to the ceiling; therefore, there is no reason for To to hold all that weight by itself.
 
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Lnewqban To=T2-T1+2T1 ? is what I see in the figure
 
if I worked out T2+T1 would this be correct?
 
or is it To=m2g+m1g-T1 as the pulley need support the two masses but the tension from the other rope takes some of that load off Lnewqban Delta2
 
Why don’t you do a force balance on each of the two massless pullies and see what you get?
 
sorry this is null I was reading the wrong figure
 

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