Solving Atwood Machine Lab: Determining Acceleration

[Iokia]

Homework Statement

Useing atwood machine, determine acceleration, knowing weight of mass to be pulled and mass pulling, distance mass travels, and information provided by photogate[which we don't understand what exactly this information is]

Homework Equations

Unknown...

The Attempt at a Solution

Please help. My lab group is at a complete loss on the application of this section, we have no idea where we need to start. We have our data collected, but we don't know how acceleration can be found.

 

[LowlyPion]

Perhaps this link can help?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atwood_machine#Equation_for_uniform_acceleration

Otherwise without seeing the image you are talking about ...

 

[Iokia]

With a combination of that site and peer help we were able to figure out what to do. I think we may have a little better understanding on dynamics. Thank you.