209k views
4 votes
Two blocks of masses 2 kg and 3 kg are attached with a massless string passing over a fixed frictionless pulley as shown. What is the acceleration of the system?

(a) g
(b) 2g/5
(c) 3g/5
(d) g/5

1 Answer

3 votes

The acceleration of the system of the two blocks is determined as g/5 (Option D).

How to calculate the acceleration of system?

The acceleration of the system of the two blocks is calculated by applying Newton's second law of motion as shown below.

F(net) = ma

where;

  • m is total mass of the system
  • a is the acceleration of the system

The net force of the system is calculated as follows;

F(net) = m₂g - m₁g

F(net) = (3 kg)(g) - (2 kg)(g)

F(net) = g(3 - 2)

F(net) = g

The total mass of the system, m = 2 kg + 3 kg = 5 kg

The acceleration of the system is;

a = F(net) / m

a = g / 5

So option D is the correct answer.

User Daemon
by
8.7k points