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dorkymichelle
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Homework Statement
The figure here shows four penguins that are being playfully pulled along very slippery (frictionless) ice by a curator. The masses of three penguins and the tension in two of the cords are m1 = 11 kg, m3 = 16 kg, m4 = 24 kg, T2 = 108 N, and T4 = 216 N. Find the penguin mass m2 that is not given.
http://edugen.wiley.com/edugen/courses/crs4957/art/qb/qu/c05/fig_5_D.gif
Homework Equations
F=ma
The Attempt at a Solution
total force =
t1+t2+t3+t4=(m1+m2+m3+m4)a
F=ma,
using penguin 4,
216N=24kg*a
a=9
t1+t2+t3+t4 =m1a+m2a+m3a+m4a
t1=(11)(9)=99
t3=(16)(9)=144
using
t1+t2+t3+t4=(m1+m2+m3+m4)a
99+108+144+216=99+m2(9)+144+216
108=m2(9)
m2 = 12
I realize I just did this the long way, instead of just doing F2=m2a but this is the wrong answer... how do I go about doing this