Two bodies of mass 4 kg and 6 kg are tied to the ends of a massless string. The string passes over a pulley which is frictionless (see figure). The acceleration of the system in terms of acceleration due to gravity (g) is : [figure]
- g/2
- g/5
- g/10
- g
Answer
(2) g/5
Solution
For two masses connected over a frictionless pulley (Atwood machine):
a = (m2 - m1)gm1 + m2
a = (6 - 4)g6 + 4
= 2g10 = g5
Answer: (2)