Tension acceleration homework question

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the tension in a pulley system with a 9kg weight and a 6kg weight. The acceleration of the system is determined to be 2 m/s², leading to a tension calculation of 72 N for the 9kg block. Participants highlight the importance of considering the forces acting on both weights, emphasizing that tension is not uniform due to the differing weights. The final consensus indicates that the tension calculation is correct, but there was initial confusion regarding the forces involved and their impact on the system's acceleration. The key takeaway is the clarification that tension in the rope must account for the weights' differences and their respective accelerations.
UrbanXrisis
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I'm just practicing some tension questions. Say there were two weights free hanging on a pully. One side hangs a 9kg weight and the other side hands a 6kg weight. So, the acceleration would be: a=F/m, a=(3kg*10m/s^2)/15kg, a=2m/s^2

Now, I want to find the tension force on the 9kg block. It’s acceleration down at 2m/s^2
T=m(g-a)
T=9kg(8 m/s^2)
T=72 N

Did I do this correct?
 
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UrbanXrisis said:
I'm just practicing some tension questions. Say there were two weights free hanging on a pully. One side hangs a 9kg weight and the other side hands a 6kg weight. So, the acceleration would be: a=F/m, a=(3kg*10m/s^2)/15kg, a=2m/s^2

Now, I want to find the tension force on the 9kg block. It’s acceleration down at 2m/s^2
T=m(g-a)
T=9kg(8 m/s^2)
T=72 N

Did I do this correct?

i'm confused by your problem

consider the situation. there's a pulley, so the forces are related. there is mg force being exerted on each side. one object weights 3 kg more than the other. what's the net force on each block?

what forces are there acting on the large block?
 
I'm several steps a head of you hehe. Look, I wrote:
a=F/m, a=(3kg*10m/s^2)/15kg, a=2m/s^2

this means, net force=(3kg*10m/s^2)
then, I found the acceleration of the whole system to be 2m/s^2

so, Tension on the larger block would equal F=ma, T=m(a), however, it is accelerating downwards so it looses gravitational force...therefor (g-a) so...

T=m(a-g)
T=9kg(8 m/s^2)
T=72 N

I don't know if I did this correct, but I think so. Need a check on the "T=m(a-g)" to know if I can do that.
 
UrbanXrisis said:
I'm several steps a head of you hehe. Look, I wrote:
a=F/m, a=(3kg*10m/s^2)/15kg, a=2m/s^2

this means, net force=(3kg*10m/s^2)
then, I found the acceleration of the whole system to be 2m/s^2

so, Tension on the larger block would equal F=ma, T=m(a), however, it is accelerating downwards so it looses gravitational force...therefor (g-a) so...

T=m(a-g)
T=9kg(8 m/s^2)
T=72 N

I don't know if I did this correct, but I think so. Need a check on the "T=m(a-g)" to know if I can do that.

does that make sense? 72 N acting on the block?

what force is pulling the block down? what force is pulling the block up?

obviously the force pulling down on the block is from gravity. so is the force pulling up on the block, right? (how is that force propagated?)

to me, it looks like neither one of your answers are correct. i could always be wrong though, I'm a ways from my phD.

edit: 2 m/s^2 is the difference between the two accelerations, if down is the positive direction
 
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mg-T=ma
(9kg*10m/s^2)-T=(9kg*2m/s^2)
T=72N
 
Last edited:
Got 72N also. This is the tension in the rope so it acts up in both cases.
using 9kg as mass 1, and towards the area under 9kg as positive.
<br /> m_1 a = m_1 g - T<br />
<br /> m_2 a = T - m_2 g<br /> <br />
combine to solve for a you get

<br /> a = \frac{m_1 g - m_2 g}{m_1 + m_2}<br />

2m/s^2

<br /> m_1 a = m_1 g - T<br />
<br /> 18 = 90 - T<br />
<br /> T= 72N<br />
 
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They are accelerating on the same rope, why would there be any difference in acceleration?
 
Skomatth said:
They are accelerating on the same rope, why would there be any difference in acceleration?

that was my problem, tension wasn't uniform in the rope the way i calculated it. i wasn't considering that the tension is higher than the weight on the side of the lighter mass.
 

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