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Vitani11
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Homework Statement
Two blocks of mass m1 = 0.500kg and m2 = 0.510kg are connected by a string that passes over a pulley with frictionless bearings. The pulley is a uniform 0.050kg disk with a radius of 0.04m. Assume that the string is massless and inextensible and that it does not slip on the pulley.
a. What are the accelerations of the blocks?
b. What is the tension in the string between block 1 and the pulley? Block 2 and the pulley? By how much do these tensions differ?
c. If the pulley were massless, what would your answers for a) and b) be?
Homework Equations
T1 = tension in string attached to mass 1
T2 = tension in string attached to mass 2
m1 = 0.500kg mass of mass 1
m2 = 0.510kg mass of mass 2
m3 = 0.050kg mass of pulley
r = 0.04m radius of pulley
I = 1/2MR^2 moment of inertia for pulley
alpha = angular acceleration of pulley
The Attempt at a Solution
I set up three equations using force diagrams. For mass 1 I have T1 = m1a. For mass two I have T2 = m2a. For the pulley I used Torque = (1/2)MR^2 * alpha = rF where there are two cases of F being T1 or being T2.
I'm not sure what to do about finding the acceleration. I would like help with the a) but if you can help with b) that would be greatly appreciated.
My solution for a) is a=2T1/m3 for mass one which is obviously wrong. I got the same for mass two.