Tension & Pulleys

Connected objects

An interactive lesson with 6 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• A light string over a smooth pulley has the same tension throughout.
• Atwood machine: $a = \frac{(m_1 - m_2)g}{m_1 + m_2}$.
• Treat connected objects as one system for the acceleration, then isolate one to find internal forces.

Steps

1. Strings pull
2. Atwood machine
3. The tension
4. Pulling a train
5. In a lift
6. Pushing two boxes