Question

Two masses m1 and m2 are connected by a massless string find the value of tension in the string if a force of 200n is applied on 1.m1 2.m2

Answer 1

PART a)

If force is applied on m1

now as per Newton's II law

$F_{net} = (m_1 + m_2)a$

so the acceleration is given by

$a = \frac{F_{net}}{m_1 + m_2}$

now the same acceleration is applied for both masses

here for mass m2 we can write

$T = m_2*a$

$T = \frac{Fm_2}{m_1 + m_2}$

Part b)

If force is applied on m2

now as per Newton's II law

$F_{net} = (m_1 + m_2)a$

so the acceleration is given by

$a = \frac{F_{net}}{m_1 + m_2}$

now the same acceleration is applied for both masses

here for mass m1 we can write

$T = m_1*a$

$T = \frac{Fm_1}{m_1 + m_2}$

so above is the tension in two different cases