An object with mass m1=5.00 kg rests on a frictionless horizontal table and is connected to a cable that?

Question

passes over a pulley and is then fastened to a hanging object with mass m2=10.0kg. Find the acceleration of each object and the tension in the cable.

Answer 1

These are always easiest to solve using FBDs of each mass and applying F=m*a

Use positive as the direction of the hanging mass motion.

10.0*9.81-T=10.0*a
T=5*a

solve for a and T
98.1-T=2*T
98.1/3=T

a=98.1/15

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