Atwood machine Definition and 161 Threads

The Atwood machine (or Atwood's machine) was invented in 1784 by the English mathematician George Atwood as a laboratory experiment to verify the mechanical laws of motion with constant acceleration. Atwood's machine is a common classroom demonstration used to illustrate principles of classical mechanics.
The ideal Atwood machine consists of two objects of mass m1 and m2, connected by an inextensible massless string over an ideal massless pulley.Both masses experience uniform acceleration. When m1 = m2, the machine is in neutral equilibrium regardless of the position of the weights.

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  1. J

    Solving a Basic Atwood Machine Setup Problem

    Hi all - Here's the problem I am having trouble with - Basic Atwood machine setup - Two masses are hanging from a pulley m pulley = 2.0kg frictional torque from pulley = .50 Nm radius of pulley = .06m mass1 = 4.0kg mass2 = 2.0kg The system is at rest with mass1...
  2. P

    Atwood machine acceleration problem

    A peculiar Atwood’s machine The Atwood’s machine shown in the figure consists of masses m,m/2,m/4,...,m/(2^(N-1)). All the pulleys and springs are mass less, as usual a) Put a mass m/(2^(N-1)) at the free end of the bottom spring. What are the acceleration s of all the masses b) Remove...
  3. T

    Help Need help with an Atwood machine problem.

    I was working on my physics homework and I came across a question that I couldn't find an example of in my notes. I'm not sure which formulas I need to use and in which order to use them. Here's the question: Two objects with masses of 3.00 kg and 5.00 kg are connected by a light...
  4. R

    How Is Tension Calculated in an Atwood Machine?

    With an Atwood Machine, I understand that the formula for calculating T can be calculated with two simultaneous equations. T-m1g=m1a a= (m2 - m1 ( T – m1
  5. B

    Finding the Mass Combination for 1/2 g Acceleration in an Atwood Machine

    im stuck on the last question of this lab. "what combination or masses would make the accelration of an atwood machine equal to 1/2 g?" a = g (m1 - m2/m1=m2) so i have to find out what m1 and m2 are eual to in that forumula if g = 1/2 im thinking a is equal to 9.81 because the...
  6. M

    Atwood Machine Help: Magnitude of T When M1 Goes to Infinity

    An atwood machine holds two masses at its ends by a massless rope. m1 and m2. Assume the pully is frictionless. What will the magnitude of the tension(T) go to as m1 goes to infinity but m2 stays the same? Im very lost on this problem. I have drawn a free body diagram showing m1g and m2g...
  7. S

    Solving the Atwood Machine - Descending Mass

    In the Atwood machine regular 2 mass machine,m1= 2.20kg and m2=7.30kg . The masses of the pulley and string are negligible by comparison. The pulley turns without friction and the string does not stretch. The lighter object is released with a sharp push that sets it into motion at an initial...
  8. E

    Atwood Machine simulation problem

    Need a check on this one please. In an Atwood Machine simulation, m1 is 1.0kg and m2 is 1.1kg. m2 rests on the floor that exerts a normal force, Fn, on m2. when the system is in equalibrium, the tension, T, in the rope at 2.54s is 9.789. If Fn +T- m2*g = 0 then Fn = .991. Is this correct?
  9. S

    Why Does the Atwood Machine Problem Calculation Differ from Expected?

    I was given this problem below in my physics homework. :cry: http://www.turbozcar.com/images/knight.Figure.08.40.jpg It wants to know the acceleration of m1. I couldn't figure it out, so the next day a friend in class gave me the answer to be: (2*m_2*g)/(4*m_1+m_2) I took that...
  10. E

    How to Solve an Atwood Machine Problem with a Pulley

    Need closure (if not guidance) on this problem also: An Atwood machine consists of two masses, m_1 and m_2, which are connected by a massless inelastic cord that passes over a pulley. If the puley has radius r and moment of inertia I about its axle, determine the acceleration of the masses...
  11. T

    How Can You Calculate Gravity Using an Atwood Machine?

    There is a problem in my physcs book that I have been trying to solve for some time now, and I just can't get trough it. If someone could help me a little bit, it would really be great. My question is about the Atwood machine. There are two blocks of same weight (M) suspended on a rope of...
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