Calculating Acceleration and Tensions in a Blocks and Pulley System

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a blocks and pulley system where a block rests on a ledge while another block hangs from a pulley. The context includes calculating the acceleration of the blocks and the tensions in the string segments, considering factors like mass, friction, and the pulley’s moment of inertia.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the equations of motion for both blocks and the pulley, questioning how to incorporate the moment of inertia and the different tensions in the string. There is an exploration of the relationship between linear and angular acceleration.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights into the equations needed to analyze the system. Some guidance has been offered regarding the use of different tension terms and the application of Newton's laws, but no consensus has been reached on the complete approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants are considering the effects of friction and the moment of inertia of the pulley, which may complicate the calculations. There is an assumption that the string has different tensions in different segments.

DragonZero
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Homework Statement



In the system shown below, there is a block of mass M = 4.4 kg resting on a horizontal ledge. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the ledge and the block is 0.25. The block is attached to a string that passes over a pulley, and the other end of the string is attached to a hanging block of mass m = 2.1 kg. The pulley is a uniform disk of radius 8.4 cm and mass 0.62 kg. Find the acceleration of each block and the tensions in the segments of string between each block and the pulley.

Homework Equations



T - Mg(coefficient of kinetic friction) = Ma
mg - T = ma
a = g((m-M)/(M+m))

torque = inertia * alpha
alpha = linear acceleration / radius

The Attempt at a Solution



inertia = 0.5 * 0.62 * 0.084^2 + 0.62 * 0.084^2 = 0.00656

For the acceleration, I think the main equation I'll need to use is torque = inertia * (linear acceleration / radius), but I'm not sure how to find torque.
 
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Assume the string to have two tensions. One for the region between the pulley and the hanging block. One for the region between the pulley and the resting block.
 
So would that be:

T - Mg(coefficient of kinetic friction) = mg - T
 
There is only one T term there. And did you take into account the moment of inertia of the pulley?

Assume tension [itex]T_{1}[/itex] for the region of the string between the hanging block and the pulley. Assume tension [itex]T_{2}[/itex] for the region of the string between the resting block and the pulley.

Use Newton's 2nd law for the two blocks, and an equation connecting angular acceleration, torque and moment of inertia for the pulley.
 
the FBD will be like:

attachment.php?attachmentid=35911&stc=1&d=1306330573.jpg


note that tensions are different
and also linear acceleration of blocks will be (angular acc of pulley)*(radius of pulley)Now wrote eqn's
 

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