# Force: two pulley problem with 3 masses

1. Sep 25, 2011

### runphysicsrun

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A 0.840- kg glider on a level air track is joined by strings to two hanging masses. As seen in the figure, the mass on the left is 4.85 kg and the one on the right is 3.62 kg The strings have negligible mass and pass over light, frictionless pulleys. Find the acceleration of the masses and T1 and T2.

Problem and figure

2. Relevant equations

I assume all a's are equal because a of each object has to be equal to the a of the glider.

$\Sigma$F =ma

3. The attempt at a solution
$\Sigma$Fobject1=T1-W
m*-a=T1-(4.85*9.81)
T1= -4.85a+4.85*9.81 (equation 1)

$\Sigma$Fobject2=T2-W
3.62a=T2-(3.62*9.81)
T2=3.62a+(3.62*9.81) (equation 2)

$\Sigma$Fobject3=T2-T1
-0.840a=T2-T1 (equation 3)

plugging eq1 and 2 into eq 3
-0.840a=3.62a+35.51-(-4.85a+47.58)
-0.84a-3.62a-4.85a=-12.07
a=.771m/sˆ2
T2=38.3N, T1=38.9N

the answers are a=1.30m/sˆ2 T1=41.3N T2=40.2

I can't figure out what I did wrong!

Last edited: Sep 25, 2011
2. Sep 25, 2011

### Ignea_unda

Check the file you uploaded - Doesn't look like a physics problem to me.

3. Sep 25, 2011

### runphysicsrun

sorry! -__- the right problem is written in now.