Calculating Acceleration and Tension for a Cart with an Overhanging Weight

[Mike12345]

A cart on a surface with a coefficient of friction of 0.20 is attached to an overhanging weight. THe cart has a mass of 2.5 kg while the overhanging weight has a mass of 1.0 kg.

Determine the Acceleration

Hanger Fg = 9.8 N

Cart Fg = 24.5 N

Fk = 4.9 N

A = Fnet/m
= 4.9 N/2.5
= 19.6 n/kg

Was i supposed to add the hanger weight which the cart? Or the Fg on the hanger with the Fg on the cart?

2) What is the tension in the cord used to pull the cart?

what do i do here?

 

[Delphi51]

So the full weight is applied to pulling the cart?
Your solution looks good, except that the net 4.9 N force is applied to accelerating the entire system of hanging mass, string and cart - the total mass of these moving parts should be used in F = ma, not just the cart mass.

You can use your answer for the first part (acceleration) to deduce the force with which the string pulled on the cart mass. That is the tension in the string.