Finding the aceleration of a system

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Homework Statement


I uploaded a picture with the problem from the textbook and its solution

Homework Equations


The relevante equations are in the attsmpt at a solution

The Attempt at a Solution


First of all, i understood the solution from the solution manual, but in my solution the only thing that is different is that i choose the positive x direction to be upwards the ramp , which is the oposite direction choosen in the solution manual
With said, i got the following equation for the NET force on each box
T-m1•g=m1•a
T-m2•g•sin55=m2•a
Doing the álgebra, i get a=-7.4, which is in the same direction as the a from the solution, but with a different magnitude, so my question is, are my 2 equations above wrong?
 
Attachments
  • Free-body setup of an Atwood-type pulley system: m1 hangs vertically from a pulley at the top, and m2 sits on a frictionless incline at angle θ, joined by a string over the pulley.
    IMG_20170828_194657.jpg
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  • Textbook problem P5.42 with masses m1 = 2.00 kg, m2 = 6.00 kg and angle 55.0 degrees, the derivation of acceleration a = (m2 g sin θ − m1 g)/(m1 + m2) = 3.57 m/s², and the answer figure showing a block on an incline connected over a pulley to a hanging mass.
    _20170828_200041.JPG
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If you choise both masses' positive direction to be up then one accelerates in the negative direction when the other accelerates in the positive direction, i.e., ##a_1 = -a_2##. You can therefore not use ##a_1 = a_2 = a## and must choose which of the accelerations you solve for.
 
Orodruin said:
If you choise both masses' positive direction to be up then one accelerates in the negative direction when the other accelerates in the positive direction, i.e., ##a_1 = -a_2##. You can therefore not use ##a_1 = a_2 = a## and must choose which of the accelerations you solve for.
But shouldn't every choice of coordinate system give us a correct awnser?
 
Last edited:
It does, but you have to think about the directions. If you do the directions properly, you will get the right answer.