Homework Help: Tension in a string

1. Dec 24, 2011

physics kiddy

I have attached a pic with my question. I want to know if T1>T2 or not.

As much as I know, Tension in a string = Earth's Gravitational force. But this question is quite confusing.

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2. Dec 24, 2011

shanykool

T=2m1m2g
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(m1+m2)

3. Dec 24, 2011

shanykool

t2 would be greater if the mass in t2 is greater than the mass in t1

4. Dec 24, 2011

Staff: Mentor

Is the pulley massless and frictionless? That's the key.
Careful! That's not true. In general you'll have to solve for the tension in the string by applying Newton's 2nd law.

5. Dec 24, 2011

physics kiddy

T1 has a mass greater than T2.

6. Dec 24, 2011

Staff: Mentor

I don't know what you mean. T1 and T2 are tensions. Regardless of the size of the mass on the ends of the string segment, the tension on both sides of a massless and frictionless pulley will be the same.

Since the mass on each side of the pulley is the same (2m on each side, added up), it turns out that in this particular case the tension T1 = T2 = 2mg. (The masses don't accelerate.)

7. Dec 24, 2011

technician

Agree completely with DocAl and will add that the tension in a string is the same everywher.... all the way along it.
There is no resultant force on this system so it is either at rest or moving with constant velocity (speed) in one direction or the other.
The only string with a different tension is between the 2 masses m and m ...the tension in here will be mg
The tensions T1 and T2 will be 2mg

8. Dec 24, 2011

briantaekim

I personally think that T2 was meant for the second string connecting the masses on the right side of the pulley. Because usually the pulley doesn't have mass (for beginner class) and the tension is uniform in one continuous string (and this is assumed rather than stated). So... I worked out the problem w these assumptions below. Check it out. So the solution looks like T1>T2.

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9. Dec 24, 2011

cupid.callin

Only if the string is also of negligible mass

And if the pulley has some mass, you can find its moment of inertia and apply the equations of torque:

$T_1 R - T_2 R = I\alpha = \frac{Ia}{R}$

Here I is moment of inertia of pulley and R is its radius ...

And if pulley has no mass, I=0 ...

10. Dec 26, 2011

physics kiddy

I apologize for confusing you all. I am sorry. I have cleared my doubts with the question. The question was that there's a pulley and two masses 2m and m are tied to the opposite ends of the pulley as shown in the figure. The tension between 2m and pulley is T1 and between m and pulley is T2. Is the tension T1>T2?

The pulley and string are assumed to be massless and frictionless.

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• Tension2.jpg
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Last edited: Dec 26, 2011
11. Dec 26, 2011

Staff: Mentor

Are you sure that T2 refers to the tension between m and the pulley and not between m and m?

(Is this your diagram, or the one given with the problem?)

12. Dec 26, 2011

physics kiddy

Yes, I am sure.

13. Dec 26, 2011

Staff: Mentor

14. Dec 28, 2011

physics kiddy

I can't figure out where the answer is. Please explain it once again. Thanks

15. Dec 28, 2011

See post #6.