Final answer:
In an Atwood machine, the net force on larger and smaller mass objects is determined by the difference in tension and weight, utilizing the equations F = W - T for the larger mass, and F = T - W for the smaller mass.
Step-by-step explanation:
In an Atwood machine, the difference in tension and weight determines the net force on the system.
For a larger-weight object, the net force F is given by the equation F = W - T, where W is the weight of the heavier object and T is the tension in the string.
Contrarily, for a smaller mass object, the net force is F = T - W, where T still represents the tension and W is the weight of the lighter object.
The direction of the net force in the Atwood machine depends on which mass is greater, and this determines the motion of the system. The heavier mass will accelerate downwards, leading to the described net force equations.