- #1
astronomerc
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Homework Statement
Two blocks are connected by a rope that passes around two pulleys as indicated in the figure. (Attached)
a. Determine the tension in the rope.
b. Determine the acceleration of each block (Hint: The two blocks do not have the same acceleration).
The Attempt at a Solution
I call m1 the left mass and m2 the right.
I think the Tension is the same for the whole rope.
My m1 free body has normal up (+y) weight down, kinetic friction left, Tension right (+x)
My m2 free body is 2T up (-y) and weight down.
I think a1=2a2
For m1x Fx=max
T-f=m1a
T=2ma2+um1g
For m2:
m2g-2T=m2a2
T=(m2g-m2a2)/2
I put my two equations together to eliminate T
4m1a2+2um1g=m2g-m2a2
I solved for a2
a2=(m2g-2um1g)/(4m1+m2)
I plugged what I had for a2 into the original to solve for u:
I ended up with m2g-2um1g-m2g=2um1g
everything cancels to -u=u
Can someone please point out my flaw, be it in my algebra or my logic?