How Do You Calculate the Acceleration of Two Connected Blocks?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the acceleration of two connected blocks, involving concepts from dynamics and free body diagrams.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of free body diagrams to analyze the forces acting on the blocks. There are attempts to apply Newton's second law, specifically the net force equation, to derive the acceleration.

Discussion Status

Some participants have shared their free body diagrams and are engaging in a dialogue about applying equations to solve for acceleration. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationships between forces and mass.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working with a visual aid that is referenced but not included in the text, which may limit the clarity of the discussion. There is also an acknowledgment of varying drawing skills among participants, which may affect the representation of concepts.

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I'm having trouble solving this problem, someone want to help me out?

Two blocks are connected by a cord as shown:
Find the acceleration of the blocks.

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/2554/physicshc9.jpg

I have the answer, but I don't know how to get to it.

the answer is 7.56
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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can you show the free body diagram that you made?
 
can you see the picture that i linked?
 
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/5738/physicsww5.jpg

here is what i added
 
Last edited by a moderator:
your free body diagram seems alright..
now apply the equation net force = mass * acc on both the bodies
 
ok here is the fbd. try solving the equations now. solve for "a" eliminating T.
one more thing, sorry for the pathetic condition of my drawing skills.
cheers
 

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