Question

A horizontal cord is attached to a 6.0-𝑘𝑔 body in a horizontal table. The cord passes over a pulley at the end of the table, and to this end is hung a body of mass 8 𝑘𝑔. Find the distance the two bodies will travel after 2𝑠 if they start from rest. What is the tension in the cord?

Answer 1

According to Newton's second law:

$$-Ma=-Mg+T,\\ ma=T.\\\space\\ a=g\frac{M}{m+m}=5.6\text{ m/s}^2.\\\space\\ T=ma=33.6\text{ N}.$$

The distance they travel in 2 s is

$$d=\frac{at^2}2=11.2\text{ m}.$$