Find an expression for the acceleration of m1. The pulleys and masses are frictionless. Hint: Think carefully about the relation between the acceleration of the two masses.

Question

anonymous · Answer

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anonymous · Answer

It's question #4 on the attached file.

anonymous · Answer

By Newton's second law, 
For m1, 
$$T={m_1{}a_1}$$
Where T is the tension in the string.
For m2, 
$$m_2 g -2T = m_2 a_2$$
from the first equation, we substitute for T and solve for a1
$$a_1 = \frac{ m_2 (g-a_2) }{ 2m_1 }$$
This is what we get.