Atwood Machine

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Atwood Machine
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An Atwoods machine is two masses connected by a
strong light string that are hung over an ideal
pulley (light and frictionless). The masses have
identical velocity and acceleration magnitudes at
every instant. If we define up on the left and
down on the right as positive directions, then
the masses have identical velocities and
accelerations period. This simplifies the
analysis a lot.
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The most natural choice that makes up on the left
and down on the right positive directions is to
focus on the pulley. Up on the left and down on
the right are the same to the pulley both are
clockwise rotations. This the coordinate system
to use for this problem.
cw
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Lets look at the clockwise forces that act on
the system of two masses and the affect they have
on their acceleration.
cw
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An Atwoods machine has m1 1kg, m2 2kg, hung
from an ideal pulley. What is the acceleration of
the masses? Calculate the tension in the string
attached to each mass.
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