What is the Tension in a Pulley System with Two Connected Masses?

[mottov2]

Homework Statement

[PLAIN]http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/3580/12p71.jpg
m1 = 1,378 g. It is free to move along a horizontal, frictionless surface. This block is connected to a second block with mass of m2 = 872 g by a massless string that extends around a massless, frictionless pulley. Find the tension of the string.

Homework Equations

F net = ma since the system is not at equilibrium.

The Attempt at a Solution

So for m1,
Tension (T) = 1.378 kg*a.

for m2,
mg-T = m2*a
T = 8.55 N - 0.827 kg*a

since tension is equal at any point along the string, i equated both equations and isolate acceleration;
1.378 kg*a = 8.55 N - 0.872 kg*a
a = 3.8 m/s^2.

therefore T = 1.378 kg * 3.8 m/s^2 = 5.24 N.

did i approach this question properly?

 

[chronos98]

Looks good to me. If you go <a href="https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=220910">here</a>, there's an example for pulleys in the pdf.

 

[chronos98]

oops, no html. just cut and paste.