F=ma experiment: Trolley being pulled by a falling weight

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on an experiment involving a trolley being pulled by a falling weight, examining how changes in the weight affect the trolley's acceleration. The key question raised is about the relationship between the mass of the hanging weight and the resulting acceleration of the system. Participants are encouraged to derive the equation for acceleration while keeping the total mass constant and to analyze the results through a plot of acceleration versus hanging mass. Additionally, the importance of considering tension in the free body diagram of the hanging weight is highlighted as a crucial factor in understanding the system's dynamics. This analysis aims to clarify the underlying physics principles governing the experiment.
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Homework Statement
Hope I’m posting this in the right area!
Relevant Equations
Experiment involves connecting a trolley to a perpendicular weight via pulley string
The weight accelerating/pulling the trolley is changed and corresponding acceleration recorded. What I don’t understand is why the weight added/removed to the hanging weight is removed/added to the trolley
 
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What is the equation for the acceleration of the system? Write it down and see what happens when you keep the sum of the masses fixed in a plot of acceleration vs. hanging mass.
 
kuruman said:
What is the equation for the acceleration of the system? Write it down and see what happens when you keep the sum of the masses fixed in a plot of acceleration vs. hanging mass.
Thank you. I neglected the tension on the hanging weight in it’s free body diagram
 

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