The figure below shows a box of dirty money (mass m1 = 4.0 kg) on a frictionless plane inclined at angle θ1 = 35°. The box is connected via a cord of negligible mass to a box of
laundered money (mass m2 = 2.0 kg) on a frictionless plane inclined at angle θ2 = 55°. The pulley is frictionless and has negligible mass. What is the tension in the cord?
The figure looks like a triangle hill, in which box m1 is on the left side and box m2 is on the right side of the hill.
First: m1=4kg, m2=2kg, T?
Second:
m2gsin(55)-T= m2a
+
m1gsin(35)+T=m1a
----------------
=(m2gsin(55)-m1gsin(35)/(m1+m2)
Third: a=(2kg*9.81m/s^2sin(55)-4kg*9.81m/s^2sin(35))/(2kg+4kg
a=1.109m/s^2
Fourth: plug into equation m1--> T=4kg*9.81m/s^2sin(35)+4kg*(1.109m/s^2)= answer
Answer: 18.2N