Tension and acceleration, one floating block, one sliding

[jstep]

Need Simple Clarification: Tension and acceleration, one floating block, one sliding

Homework Statement

gravity is 9.81m/s2
m1 = 2.62kg
m2 = 7.62kg

[PLAIN]http://uploadpad.com/files/Screen_shot_2011-02-27_at_5.40.01_PM.png

Assume the cord to be light (massless and weightless) and unstretchable and the pulley to have no friction and no rotational inertia.

Homework Equations

F = ma

The Attempt at a Solution

First, I am asked for the acceleration of the first block. Would this just be the acceleration of gravity?

Then I am asked for the tension in the string. Do I need to add both masses, and multiply by gravity? Is the following correct?

F = (m1 + m2) * a, a = 9.81m/s2

Each block should accelerate at the same rate, correct? is this the rate of gravity?

But if both blocks accelerate at the same rate, that means that there are different forces acting on each block as their masses are different. So does that mean that the tension of the string is different in each part of the problem? If I am asked for the tension, do I add these two tensions together?

I am not sure if I am overlooking something.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Delphi51]

Yes, both blocks will have the same acceleration.
There is only one tension; it pulls to the right on m1 and up on m2. This can be deduced from the fact that the string has no significant mass.

Did you show the question in full? It doesn't say what friction force the floating block experiences, if any.