Physics Homework Question

Question

A box of mass m₂ = 3.8 kg rests on a frictionless horizontal shelf and is attached by strings to boxes of masses m₁ = 1.2 kg and m₃ = 2.8 kg as shown below. Both pulleys are frictionless and massless. The system is released from rest. After it is released, find the following.

(a) the acceleration of each of the boxes

a1	=  m/s2
a2	=  m/s2
a3	=  m/s2

(b) the tension in each string

T1	=  N
T2	=  N

Plz show any steps! thank you

Answer 1

r1 - 1.2g = 1.2 a1 ..... Eq 1

r2- r1 =3.8a2............ Eq 2

2.8g - r2 = 2.8 a3........ Eq 3

a1 = a2 = a3 = a

So r1 - 1.2*9.8 + 1.2 a

r1 - 11.76 = 1.2 a..... A

r2 - r1 = 37.24 a ......B

27.44 - r2 = 2.8a ..... C

Solve A, B and C for

a, r1 and r2

Ask me if you have any question