Question

What would be the acceleration of the Atwood machine if the difference between the two masses is 0. 020 kg while the sum of the two masses is 0. 400 kg?

Answer 1

M = m1 + m2 = (m1 + m2) kg = .40 kg total mass

m2 - m1 = .02 kg difference of two masses

m1 + m2 = .40

m2 - m1 = .02

2 m2 = .42 or m2 = .21 kg (adding equations)

Thus m1 must be .19 kg

Assuming that you know a = (m2 - m1) g / (m1 + m2)

a = .02 / .4 g = g / .05 = 9.8 m/s^2 * 1 / 20 = .49 m/s^2