Final answer:
The tension in an Atwood machine can be found by using the equilibrium condition. The tension is determined by the difference in the masses and the acceleration due to gravity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tension in an Atwood machine can be found by using the equilibrium condition. The tension in an Atwood machine can be found by using the equilibrium condition. The tension is determined by the difference in the masses and the acceleration due to gravity.
The equilibrium condition states that the sum of the forces acting on an object is zero. In the case of an Atwood machine, the tension in the string can be found by setting the net force on one of the masses equal to zero. This can be expressed as:
Tension = (mass 1)(acceleration due to gravity) - (mass 2)(acceleration due to gravity)
For example, if mass 1 is 2.00 kg and mass 2 is 4.00 kg, and the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s², the tension in the string can be calculated as:
Tension = (2.00 kg)(9.8 m/s²) - (4.00 kg)(9.8 m/s²) = -19.6 N