An Atwood Machine is a simple mechanical device that consists of two masses connected by a string or cable that passes over a pulley. It is used to demonstrate the principles of mechanics and is commonly used in physics experiments.
The problem being presented in "Atwood Machine Help: Problem 1 Harvard" is a specific scenario involving an Atwood Machine, in which the masses, pulley, and string are all given and the goal is to determine the acceleration of the system.
The key concepts involved in solving this problem are Newton's laws of motion, specifically the second law which states that the net force on an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration. The concept of tension in the string and the concept of equilibrium (when the net force is equal to zero) are also important to understand.
First, draw a diagram of the Atwood Machine and label all known values. Then, use Newton's second law to set up an equation involving the net force on each mass. Next, use the concept of equilibrium to set up another equation. Finally, solve the system of equations to find the acceleration of the system.
Some common mistakes to avoid when solving this type of problem include not accounting for the tension in the string, not setting up the equations correctly, and not using the correct units in calculations. It is also important to double check your work and make sure the final answer makes sense in the context of the problem.