Do all masses in a pulley have the same acceleration?

[Balsam]

Homework Statement

The way my teacher makes us solve for accelleration in pulley problems is by calculating the net force of the system as a whole and then using F=ma, with the total mass and total net force. Are you supposed to solve for something like accelleration separately for each mass or do all masses in a pulley have the same accelleration?

Homework Equations

F=ma

The Attempt at a Solution

Does it make sense to solve for the accelleration of the system as a whole or of the separate masses? I'm not sure.

 

[physics user1]

All the mass have the same acceleration, if not that would mean that the cable connecting 'em would change it's lenght

 

[ehild]

Homework Statement

The way my teacher makes us solve for accelleration in pulley problems is by calculating the net force of the system as a whole and then using F=ma, with the total mass and total net force. Are you supposed to solve for something like accelleration separately for each mass or do all masses in a pulley have the same accelleration?

If all masses have the same acceleration, depends on the problem.
In the figure on the left, the masses have the same acceleration, A upward and B downward. On the right, the accelerations are not the same. The upward acceleration of A is twice the downward acceleration of B. Make a free body diagram for each mass and find the relation of their accelerations from the condition that the length of the string must be constant.