In an Atwood’s Machine with two unequal masses, which of these is always true on

ID: 585582 • Letter: I

Question

In an Atwood’s Machine with two unequal masses, which of these is always true once the masses are moving?

options:

The tension in the string between the masses is larger than the weight of the lighter mass and less than the weight of the heavier mass.

The masses are in motion so there is no tension in the string.

The tension in the string is equal to both the weight of the heavier mass and the weight of the lighter mass.

The tension in the string between the masses is smaller than the weight of the lighter mass and more than the weight of the heavier mass.

The answer depends on Newton’s Fourth Law and so can’t be precisely calculated.

The tension in the string between the masses is larger than the weight of the lighter mass and less than the weight of the heavier mass.

The masses are in motion so there is no tension in the string.

The tension in the string is equal to both the weight of the heavier mass and the weight of the lighter mass.

The tension in the string between the masses is smaller than the weight of the lighter mass and more than the weight of the heavier mass.

The answer depends on Newton’s Fourth Law and so can’t be precisely calculated.

if m1 is heavier mass and m2 is lighter mass
In terms of m1:
T = m1*g -m1*a

In terms of m2:
T = m2*g + m1*a

so tenstion is in between m1*g and m2*g

Answer:
The tension in the string between the masses is larger than the weight of the lighter mass and less than the weight of the heavier mass.

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