How Does Tension in a Frictionless Pulley System Behave with Balanced Forces?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a frictionless pulley system with two masses, where one mass is on a horizontal surface and the other is suspended. The original poster attempts to determine the tension in the strings connecting the masses while considering the forces acting on them.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster questions whether the tension in the strings can be equated to the weight of the suspended mass, given that there is no acceleration in the system. Some participants discuss the implications of the additional horizontal force and its effect on the tension.

Discussion Status

The discussion is exploring the relationship between the forces acting on the masses and the resulting tension in the strings. Some participants express agreement with the reasoning presented, while others are clarifying the conditions under which the tension can be determined.

Contextual Notes

There is an assumption that the additional string exerts a horizontal force without causing motion, which is a key point under discussion. The setup involves a frictionless environment, which may influence the analysis of forces.

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1. A 2.0 kg mass sits on a frictionless horizontal surface. The mass is attached by a weightless string running over a frictionless pulley attached to a 1.5 kg mass. An additional string exerts a force on the block on the mass on the surface so that no motion results. Find the tension in each of the strings.



2.



3. I just wonder if this problem is as easy as it seems. Fg on mass 2 is equal to the tension force on mass 2 therefore the tension in string 2 is equal to the weight of the object. If that is the case and there is no acceleration to either mass in the problem the tension force for both strings is equal to the weight of the suspended mass.
 
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Sounds right as long as the additional string is pulling horizontally.
 
yea diagram looks like

---------block---------
|
|
|
block
 
Good. Then I think your reasoning is correct! :smile:
 

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