Can you find tension on a string without mass

AI Thread Summary
In a pulley system with three masses, two are hanging while one is on a table, with the right mass being twice the left's mass. The discussion revolves around whether the system is in mechanical equilibrium. Participants suggest drawing free body diagrams for clarity on the forces acting on each mass. The key question is about the sum of forces on each mass and the implications of setting them to zero. Understanding these forces is crucial for analyzing the tension in the string despite the absence of mass values.
faisalcrazy
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
So my pulley system has 3 masses two of which are connected to a center mass on top of a table. No mass was given for any of the objects but of two masses hanging from the table, the one on the right is 2 times the mass on the left. I hope I haven't confused you but its like a three step diagram so I'm going to try make a picture for you

M2(free weight)-----^M1(on table)------M3(free weight,X2 the mass)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Are the weights supposed to be in mechanical equilibrium? I recommend drawing a free body diagram for each mass.
 
Geofleur said:
Are the weights supposed to be in mechanical equilibrium? I recommend drawing a free body diagram for each mass.

Yes they are and I have! it was also given with a free body diagram that's why I tried to draw it out for you
 
What forces do you get acting on each mass? What happens when you set the sum of the forces on each mass to zero?
 

Thread '1:1 versus 2:1 Mechanical Advantage debate'

The rope is tied into the person (the load of 200 pounds) and the rope goes up from the person to a fixed pulley and back down to his hands. He hauls the rope to suspend himself in the air. What is the mechanical advantage of the system? The person will indeed only have to lift half of his body weight (roughly 100 pounds) because he now lessened the load by that same amount. This APPEARS to be a 2:1 because he can hold himself with half the force, but my question is: is that mechanical...
View full post »

Thread 'Average velocity as a weighted mean'

Hello everyone, Consider the problem in which a car is told to travel at 30 km/h for L kilometers and then at 60 km/h for another L kilometers. Next, you are asked to determine the average speed. My question is: although we know that the average speed in this case is the harmonic mean of the two speeds, is it also possible to state that the average speed over this 2L-kilometer stretch can be obtained as a weighted average of the two speeds? Best regards, DaTario
View full post »

Thread 'Newton's first law?'

Some physics textbook writer told me that Newton's first law applies only on bodies that feel no interactions at all. He said that if a body is on rest or moves in constant velocity, there is no external force acting on it. But I have heard another form of the law that says the net force acting on a body must be zero. This means there is interactions involved after all. So which one is correct?
View full post »

Similar threads

B Rotational Dynamics: Confused about the tension in this string pulling a mass up an incline
Replies
2
Views
1K
What is the free-body diagram for a massless pulley in free fall?
Replies
31
Views
4K
Pulleys with Strings Having Mass
Replies
4
Views
3K
I Two-Mass Oscillator: Plotting Amplitudes Over Frequency in Hertz
Replies
10
Views
2K
B Calculate needed dimensions of table - Center of mass, levers etc
Replies
11
Views
2K
Why are these pulleys equivalent?
Replies
16
Views
1K
How does tension in a string balance weight and cause acceleration in objects?
Replies
46
Views
7K
Tension same at both ends of the string?
Replies
4
Views
4K
2 pullies and 3 masses -Tension
Replies
18
Views
4K
Moment of Inertia of Massless Pulley w/String & Mass m Attached
Replies
14
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top