Question

The diagram below shows an Atwood's Machine: Mass A (5 kg) and Mass B (1.5 kg) are attached to a frictionless, massless pulley.
Hint: These situations can be tricky or easy depending on how you view the problem. For practice with algebra, think of each mass as separate but having a common acceleration. For ease of computation, think of the whole mass-cord-mass thingy as a single object.

(a) What is the acceleration of Block A when the blocks are released?
(b) How long will it take for block A to fall 3 m?

Answer 1

Are you familiar with Newton's second law? Have you drawn the free-body diagram?
You'll need to take into account their weights.

Answer 2

do i need a diagramm for each block?

Answer 3

yes

Answer 4

you'll have two variables, and two simultaneous eqs. solve for acceleration.