Name:________________________________________________________Date:___________________________

Atwoods Machine Newtons Laws of Motion

1. A pair of blocks A and B of masses mA = 0.300 kg and mB = 0.700 kg where mB > mA, are
connected by a light cord that passes over an ideal pulley as shown in the figure. A second
cord connects block B to the ground, keeping the system at rest.

(a) Draw a free-body diagram for block A. (b) Draw a free-body diagram for block B.

(c) Determine the tension in the cord connecting the two blocks. Provide reasoning.

(d) Determine the tension in the cord connecting block A to the ground. Provide reasoning.

At time t = 0, the cord is cut at point P and the systems begins to move.
(e) A short time interval t thereafter, rank the magnitudes of the following forces, writing 1 for
the largest force, etc. Provide your reasoning.

___ the gravitational force on A

___ the gravitational force on B

___ the tension in the connecting cord

(f) Determine the magnitude of the blocks acceleration by considering each block individually.

(g) Now consider system C composed of the two blocks and the connecting cord. Determine the magnitude of the
acceleration of the two-block system by applying Newtons second law to system C.

(h) Determine the tension in the cord.

Physics -1- Mr. Almeida

Suppose at time t = 0, block B is h = 1.80 meters above the ground.
(i) Determine how long after the cord is cut that block B strikes the ground.

(j) Determine the speed of block B just before it strikes the ground.

(k) Describe the motion of the system in the limit mA/mB << 1.

Physics -2- Mr. Almeida