CHAPTER 7.

NEWTONS SECOND LAW

Example 1. Two-Body Problem: Find tension in the
connecting rope if there is no friction on the
surfaces.
2 kg 4 kg
12 N Find acceleration of
system and tension
in connecting cord.
First apply F = ma to entire system (both masses).
12 N
n
(m
2
+ m
4
)g
SF
x
= (m
2
+ m
4
) a
12 N = (6 kg) a
a =
12 N
6 kg
a = 2 m/s
2
Example 1 (Cont.) The two-body problem.
2 kg 4 kg
12 N
Now find tension T
in connecting cord.
Apply F = m a to the 2 kg mass where a = 2 m/s
2
.
T
n
m
2
g
SF
x
= m
2
a
T = (2 kg)(2 m/s
2
)
T = 4 N
Example 1 (Cont.) The two-body problem.
2 kg 4 kg
12 N
Same answer for T
results from focusing
on 4-kg by itself.
Apply F = m a to the 4 kg mass where a = 2 m/s
2
.
SF
x
= m
4
a
12 N - T = (4 kg)(2 m/s
2
)
T = 4 N
12 N
n
m
2
g
T
Example 2 Find acceleration of system and
tension in cord for the arrangement shown.
First apply F = m a to entire
system along the line of motion.
SF
x
= (m
2
+ m
4
) a
a = 6.53 m/s
2
n
m
2
g
T
m
4
g
T
+ a
Note m
2
g is balanced by n.
m
4
g = (m
2
+ m
4
) a
(4 kg)(9.8 m/s
2
)
2 kg + 4 kg

a = =
m
4
g
m
2
+ m
4
2 kg
4 kg
Example 2 (Cont.) Now find the tension T given
that the acceleration is a = 6.53 m/s
2
.
To find T, apply F = m a to just
the 2 kg mass, ignoring 4 kg.
T = (2 kg)(6.53 m/s
2
)
T = 13.1 N
Same answer if using 4 kg.
m
4
g - T = m
4
a
T = m
4
(g - a) = 13.1 N
n
m
2
g
T
m
4
g
T
+ a
2 kg
4 kg
2 2
or
x
F m a T m a

Example 3. Find the acceleration of the

system shown below. (The Atwood machine.)
First apply F = ma to entire system
along the line of motion.
SF
x
= (m
2
+ m
5
) a
a = 4.20 m/s
2

T
m
2
g
m
5
g
T
+a
2 kg 5 kg
2
5 2
2 5
(5 kg 2 kg)(9.8 m/s )
2 kg + 5 kg
m g m g
a
m m

5 2 2 5
( ) m g m g m m a