Find acceleration of blocks, also find tension in string 1 & 2

Example
2 1 F = 120N
3kg 4kg 5kg
(i) For 4 kg block (A) T1

Fnet 4 kg
= Ma
T1 – T2 – 40 = 4 a a A
… (i) T2
3 kg
(ii) For 3 kg block (B) +
T2 40 N a B
= Ma
Fnet
T3 –
T2 – T3 – 30 = 3 a ... (ii) T3 30 N
3 kg
(iii) For 3 kg block (C) a C

Fnet = Ma
T3 – 30 = 3 a ... (iii) 30 N
 Find acceleration of blocks, also find tension in string 1 & 2

2 1
3kg 4kg 5kg F = 120N

Solution:
Mass of system = 12 kg As all three blocks
are connected with
Force on system = 120 N strings. So all three
∴ Acceleration of = Force on system blocks will move
System Mass of system with same
acceleration (a).
120 = 10 m/s 2
=
12
 a = 10m/s2
(2) T2 (1) T1
3kg 4kg 5kg F = 120N

Applying Newton’s 2nd law on system

T1 = ma
⇒ T1 = 7 × 10 ⇒ T1 = 70N

Applying Newton’s
2nd law on 3kg block
T2 = ma
⇒ T2 = 3 × 10 ⇒ T2 = 30N 1. To find tension in string 1, blocks 3kg and 4kg will be
considered as System. In horizontal direction, tension
T1 is the force on the system
2. To find tension in string 2, block 3kg will be
considered as body. In horizontal direction, tension T2
is the force on 3kg
3 blocks of mass 4 kg, 3 kg and 3 kg are attached to ideal strings. If a force of
150 N is applied at point A in vertically upward direction then find the tension in
the strings.
A. 150N, 90N, 45N
150 N
B. 90N, 90N, 45N
C. 90N, 130N, 45N A
1
D. 150N, 80N, 45N

4 kg

3 kg

3 kg
 T1 T T
4 kg 23 kg 3 3 kg
a A a B a C

T2 40 N T3 30 N 30 N

1. Let us start with FBD of each block.

2. Let us assume acceleration of block A to be ‘a’ in vertically upward
direction.
3. Since the string is inextensible from constrained motion we can say that
each block will have the same acceleration.
 T1 – T2 – 40 = 4 a

T2 – T3 – 30 = 3 a
… (i)
T3 – 30 = 3 a

T1 – 40 – 30 – 30 = 10 a

T1 = 100 + 10 a
∴ T1 = 150 N
... (ii) • Adding (i). (ii), and (iii)
• As the strings are ideal, hence tension is through out
Hence we get same
150 = 100 + 10a

a = 5 m/s 2
... (iii)
 T1 – T2 – 40 = 4a …(i)
a = 5 m/s 2 T2 – T3 – 30 = 3a …(ii)
Putting this value of a in each equation
Eq.
T2 = T1 – 40 – 4a
⇒ 150 – 40 – 20
T2 ⇒ 90 N

Eq. (2)
T3 = T2 – 30 – 3a
⇒ 90 – 30 – 15
T3 ⇒ 45 N
One end of a string 0.5 m long is fixed to a point. The free end has a downward
force of 8 N and a horizontal force F acting on it, until it is 0.3 m from the
vertical through A. Find the tension T in the string & the force F.

A. 10 N, 6 N
B. 8 N, 6 N
fixed
C. 6 N, 10 N
D. 6 N, 8 N

0.3 m
F

8N
Given, AC = 0.5 m, BC = 0.3 m A

∴ AB = 0.4 m (By Pythagoras's T

θ θ
Theorem)
and if
B F
∠BAC = θ
C
AB 0.4 4
= =
Then cos θ =
, AC 0.5 5
BC 0.3 3 8N
and sin θ = = =
AC 0.5 5
Resolving the tension force in horizontal and A T cosθ

vertical direction.
Applying Newton’s First law in Vertical T
θ
direction: θ
B F
T cosθ = 8 N
T sinθ
4
or, T 5 =8N

or, T = 10 N 8N

Applying Newton’s First law in Horizontal

direction:

F = T sinθ
3 F = 6N
F = 10 5 N
Determine the tensions T1 and T2 in the strings as shown in figure.

A. 150 N, 120 N
37°
B. 120 N, 150 N
C. 90 N, 0 N T1

D. None of these
T2

9 kg
Resolving the tension T1 along horizontal and
vertical directions.
T1 sin37° 37°
Applying Newton’s First law in Vertical direction:
T1
37° T cos37°
T1 sin 37° = 9 × 10 N ….(i) T2
1

Applying Newton’s First law in Horizontal direction :

T1 cos 37° = T2 ….(ii)

 T1 sin60° 60°
T1
T1 sin 37° = 90 N ….(i) 60°
T1 cos60°
T2
T1 cos 37° = T 2 ….(ii)

From equation (i) From equation (ii)

T2 = T1 cos 37°
T1= 150 N
= 120 N
String & Pulley based Ǫuestions
Consider the system of ideal pulley as shown. A block of mass m kg is attached
with the help of ideal string. Find the Force exerted by pulley on the ceiling.

A. mg
B. 2mg
C. 0
D. None of these

m
Draw FBD

Block Pulley
+ T T′
+

mg
T T

Applying IInd law Applying IInd law

= Ma = Ma
Fnet Fnet
T – mg = M(0) T′ – 2T = Mpap
T = mg T′ – 2T = 0

T′ = 2mg
Example Find acceleration of the blocks & tension in the string (m2 > m1).

m1 m2
2 masses m1 and m2 are connected by a light string going over a smooth light
pulley as shown.The system is at rest. Find the angle of the incline & force
exerted by the incline on m1

m2

θ
Take the body of mass m 2 as the system.
The forces acting on it are :
m2
(i) m2g vertically downward (by the earth),
(ii) T vertically upward (by the string),
As the system is at rest, these forces θ
should add to zero.

This gives T = m2g . . . (i) T

m2

m2 g
Next, consider the body of mass m1 as the system.
The forces acting on this system are:
m2
(i) m1g vertically downward (by the earth),
(ii) T along the string up the incline (by the string.)
(iii)N normal to the incline (by the incline.)
θ
Taking components parallel to the incline,

T = m1g sin θ . . . (ii)

N T
➔ As the string and the pulley are all light and
smooth, the tension in the string is uniform m1g sinθ
everywhere. m1g
➔ As the system is in equilibrium, these forces
should add to zero.
Taking components along the normal to the
incline, m2

N = m1g cosθ . . . (iii)

Eliminating T from (i) and (ii)

θ
⇒ m2g = m1g sinθ.

⇒ sinθ = m 2 /m 1
⇒
θ = sin-1 (m 2 /m 1 )
N T
N = m1g 1-(m 2 /m 1 ) 2
m1g sinθ m1g cosθ
m1g