Two masses are connected by a string and pulled along a frictionless surface by anoth

In summary, the purpose of connecting two masses with a string and pulling them along a frictionless surface is to study the effects of forces and motion on the masses. The presence of a string acts as a mediator for the pulling force and adds tension to the system, affecting the acceleration of the masses. Having a frictionless surface is important in this experiment as it removes the effects of friction and allows for a focus on the pulling force and acceleration. The acceleration of the masses is affected by the mass of the objects and the magnitude of the pulling force, according to Newton's Second Law of Motion. This experiment is not a realistic representation of forces and motion in the real world, but it can still provide valuable insights in a controlled setting.
  • #1
Ahmad786
17
0
17. Two masses are connected by a string and pulled along a frictionless surface by another
string one is 5kg and the other is 10 kg to which a tension of 40.0 N is applied. The magnitude of the system’s acceleration
is
A. 8.0 m/s2
B. 20 m/s2
C. 13 m/s2
D. 2.7 m/s2
(For this question I added the two masses to get the mass and then I used the equation a=f/m to find the acceleration)

Is D. the correct answer?
 
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  • #2


Looks good to me.
 
  • #3


Yes, D. 2.7 m/s2 is the correct answer. To find the acceleration, we can use the equation a = F/m, where F is the applied tension and m is the total mass of the system. In this case, the total mass is 5 kg + 10 kg = 15 kg. Therefore, the acceleration is a = 40.0 N / 15 kg = 2.7 m/s2. This is the correct answer.
 

FAQ: Two masses are connected by a string and pulled along a frictionless surface by anoth

1. What is the purpose of connecting two masses with a string and pulling them along a frictionless surface?

The purpose of this setup is to study the effects of forces and motion on two connected objects. By eliminating friction, the experiment can isolate the effects of the pulling force on the masses.

2. How does the presence of a string affect the motion of the two masses?

The string acts as a mediator for the pulling force, allowing the masses to move together. It also adds tension to the system, which can affect the acceleration of the masses.

3. Why is it important to have a frictionless surface in this experiment?

Friction is a force that opposes motion and can greatly affect the results of the experiment. By removing friction, the experiment can focus on the effects of the pulling force and the masses' acceleration.

4. How does the mass of the objects and the magnitude of the pulling force affect the acceleration of the masses?

According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. Therefore, a larger mass or a greater pulling force will result in a smaller acceleration.

5. Is this experiment a realistic representation of forces and motion in the real world?

No, this experiment is a simplified model and does not take into account external forces such as air resistance or the effects of gravity. However, it can still provide valuable insights into the relationship between forces and motion in a controlled setting.

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