Question

A body mass 8kg, placed on a smooth horizontal table, I's connected by a light string passing over a pully to a hanging body of mass 2kg. Find the acceleration of the masses and the tension in the string. (g=10 m/s²)

Answer 1

Applying F= ma vertically down for 2kg,

Mg - T = m×a

= 20- T = 2a -----(1)

Since smooth frictionless pulley and the two masses are connected by a single light string Tension ( T) for both ends is the same ,

Applying F=ma for the 8kg mass horizontally,

T= 8×a-----(2)

Substituting (2) in (1)

20 - 8a = 2a

a= 2m/so

Substituting a= 2m/s² in (2)

T = 8 × 2 = 16 N