Question

A force of 5N produces an acceleration of 8 m/s² in mass m and an acceleration of 24m/s² in mass m2.What acceleration would it give if both the masses are tied together?

Answer 1

F = 5N

a = 8 m/s²
m = F/a = 5/8 kg

a2 = 24 m/s²
m2 = 5/24 kg

m+m2 = 5/8 + 5/24 = (15+5)/24 = 20/24 = 5/6 kg
acceleration of mass tied together = F/(m+m2) = 5/(5/6) = (5×6)/5 = 6 m/s²