A light, inextensible string passes over a smooth, massless fixed pulley and connects two blocks of masses m1 and m2 (m1 > m2). If the magnitude of the acceleration of the system is g/4, what is the ratio m1/m2?

Correct answer: 5/3

Solution

For an Atwood machine: a = (m1-m2)*g/(m1+m2) = g/4. So (m1-m2)/(m1+m2) = 1/4. Cross-multiplying: 4*(m1-m2) = m1+m2 => 3*m1 = 5*m2 => m1/m2 = 5/3.

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