Newton's Laws of Motion
 

Newton's Laws of Motion problem 73


A light rope is installed over a lightly attached pulley. On the rope are hung bodies with masses and as shown in the figure below. Initially, the bodies are held so that their centers of gravity are apart. Ignore friction, if the bodies are released:

  • how fast does the heavier body fall?

  • how long does it take for the centers of gravity of the bodies to be at the same height?

  • what is the velocity of each body at this height?

  • What is the kinetic energy of the body system when the centers of gravity of the bodies are at the same height?


Figure 1: Bodies on a pulley


 

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