Question

An Atwood machine is set up like the figure below. If $m_1=5.0kg$ and $m_2=15kg$. What is the tension in the rope? Take the value of $g=10m{s}^{-2}$)

• A. $25N$
• B. $50N$
• C. $75N$
• D. $100N$

Answer 1

The correct option is C $75N$

Generally the tension in the rope in the case of Atwood machine is calculated as:
$T=\frac{2m_1{m}_{2}g}{m_1+m_2}$
where, $m_1$ and $m_2$ is the mass of block 1 and 2 and $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity.

Here, $m_1=5kg$ and $m_2=15kg$
Therefore,
$a=\frac{2\times 15\times \times 10}{5+15}=75N$