Two blocks connected by a string are on a horizontal frictionless surface. The blocks are connected to a hanging weight by means of a string that passes over a pulley as shown in the figure below, where m1 = 1.85 kg, m2 = 2.80 kg, and m3 = 5.05 kg.

Why did you put your school in the Subject box?

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All organisms are classified in groups. What is not used to classify animals?
age
skin covering
teeth
structures

Age is not used to classify animals.

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Each higher level of classification includes more organisms. How does an organism's scientific name indicate shared characteristics in a taxonomic level?
Each species is one type of organism.
The scientific name is the species name.
Characteristics are only shared by organisms with the same scientific name.
Organisms in the same genus share many characteristics.

Organisms in the same genus share many characteristics.

To understand how the blocks and the hanging weight behave in this system, we need to consider the forces acting on each component and apply Newton's second law of motion.

First, let's label the masses and forces involved in the system. We have:

m1 = 1.85 kg (mass of the first block)
m2 = 2.80 kg (mass of the second block)
m3 = 5.05 kg (mass of the hanging weight)

Now, let's analyze the forces acting on each component:

1. The first block (m1):
- Tension force (T1) acting to the right: This force is directed towards the second block.
- Normal force (N1) acting upward: This force balances the weight of the first block (m1 * g).
- Friction force (F1) is assumed to be zero since the surface is described as frictionless.

2. The second block (m2):
- Tension force (T2) acting to the left: This force is directed towards the first block.
- Normal force (N2) acting upward: This force balances the weight of the second block (m2 * g).
- Friction force (F2) is assumed to be zero since the surface is described as frictionless.

3. The hanging weight (m3):
- Tension force (T3) acting upward: This force is exerted by the string connected to the blocks and opposes the weight of the hanging weight (m3 * g).
- Gravitational force (m3 * g) acting downward: This force is caused by the weight of the hanging weight.

Now, let's apply Newton's second law of motion (F = m * a) to each component:

1. For the first block (m1):
ΣFx = T1 - T2 = m1 * a1
Since the surface is frictionless, the net force along the horizontal direction is the difference between the two tension forces. The acceleration (a1) of the first block is assumed to be the same as the second block for this system.

2. For the second block (m2):
ΣFx = T2 - T1 = m2 * a2
This equation is similar to the first block since the tension forces are in opposite directions.

3. For the hanging weight (m3):
ΣFy = T3 - m3 * g = m3 * a3
The net force along the vertical direction is the difference between the tension force and the gravitational force acting on the hanging weight. The acceleration (a3) of the hanging weight is also assumed to be the same as the first and second blocks.

By solving these equations simultaneously, you can determine the accelerations (a1, a2, and a3) of the blocks and the hanging weight, and further calculate other relevant quantities depending on the specific question you have related to this system.