Question

4. 38. An object of mass m1 on a frictionless horizontal table is connected to an object of mass m2 through a very light pulley P1 and a light fixed pulley P2 as shown in Figure P4.38. (a) If a1 and a2 are the accelerations of m1 and m2, respectively, what is the relation between these accelerations? Express (b) the tensions in the strings and (c) the accelerations a1 and a2 in terms of g and the masses m1 and m2.

Answer 1

a) wouldn't acceleration be equal between both objects

Answer 2

actually probably not

Answer 3

I assume I would use the formulas
-T + m1g = ma
T + m1a = ma

Answer 4

but P_1 is throwing me off

Answer 5

it should rather be m2g - T2 = m2a2.
and well, i found the solution on net. here's the link. scroll down [much down!] to view it.
http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cfadd/1350/Hmwk/Ch05/Ch5.html

Answer 6

that solution is quite detailed, so u should be able to understand it very well.

Answer 7

thanks so much :)

Answer 8

glad to be of help! actually, it helped me too...now i know what to do when faced with a similar arrangement. so thanks!