Answer:
See the answers below. And the free body diagrams attached.
Explanation:
To solve this problem, we must build a free body diagram, where we show the forces acting on a body, first for the m2 body, where the force of 3.5 [N] acts to the right. In such a way that a reaction force is presented in the opposite direction due to the string tied between both bodies, we will call this force T1.
Now using Newton's second law, which is defined as the sum of forces equal to the product of mass by acceleration, we can determine an equation as a function of T1.
∑F = m*a
[tex]3.5 -T_{1}=0.6*a_{2}[/tex]
We have an equation with two unknowns, in such a way we must perform a second free body diagram for the body with mass m1, to acquire the additional equation.
∑F =m₁*a₁
[tex]T_{1}=0.4*a_{1}[/tex]
By kinematics we know that if the string tied to Body 2 moves a distance, the part of the string at the end tied to body 1 will move the same distance. This same analysis is valid for velocities and accelerations.
This is the accelerations a1 and a2 are equal. Now equalizing both equations.
[tex]3.5-0.4*a_{1}=0.6*a_{2}\\but\\a_{1}=a_{2}\\3.5-0.4*a_{1}=0.6*a_{1}\\a_{1}=3.5[m/s^{2} ][/tex]
