Question

Two blocks connected by a chord passing

Over a small frictionless pulley rest on

Frictionless planes as shown in figure.

(i) Which way will the system move?

(ii) What is the acceleration of the blocks?

(iii) What is the tension in the chord?

Answer 1

lets assume the system will to the left

50kg body along the slope :

T - m1gsin53 = m1a

100kg body along the slope :

m2gsin30 - T = m2a

add equations :

m2gsin30 - m1gsin53 = a(m1+m2)

g(m2sin30-m1sin53) / (m1+m2) = a

a = 0.671 since a is positive the system will indeed go left.

you found already the answer for b

now for the tension plug the a into one of the above equations for one of the bodies ..