How Do You Calculate Tension in a String with Mass and Acceleration?

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To calculate the tension in a string with mass and acceleration, apply Newton's Laws to the mass m attached to the string. The net force acting on the mass is the difference between the gravitational force (mg) and the tension (T). The equation can be expressed as ma = mg - T. Rearranging this gives T = mg - ma, which provides the tension in terms of mass, acceleration, and gravity. This approach effectively demonstrates the relationship between these forces in a system with constant acceleration.
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Homework Statement


A string is attached to a mass and a pulley at the top end and the mass is free to move and descends with a constant acceleration, a.
By applying Newton's Laws to mass m, find an expression for the tension in the string, in terms of m, a and the acceleration due to gravity, g.

Homework Equations



F=ma

The Attempt at a Solution


I was thinking the net force downwards is mg-Tension force. And the net force results acceleration. So ma=mg-tension. is that correct?
 
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That's correct.
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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