Question

In the arrangement shown in figure, the strings are light and in extensible. The surface over which blocks are placed is smooth. Find :

(a) the acceleration of each block ; 

(b) the tension in each string.

Answer 1

(a) Let ‘a’ be the acceleration of each block and T₁ and T₂ be the tensions, in the two strings as shown in figure.

Taking the three blocks and the two strings as the system.

(b) Free body diagram (showing the force sin x-direction only) of 4 kg block and 1 kg block are shown in figure.

For 4 kg blocks,

T₂ = (4) (a)

∴ T₂ = (4) (4) = 16 N