Buckets and a Pulley Two buckets of sand hang from opposite ends of a rope that
ID: 2263018 • Letter: B
Question
Buckets and a Pulley Two buckets of sand hang from opposite ends of a rope that passes over
an ideal pulley. One bucket is full and weighs 120 N; the other bucket is only partly filled and
weighs 63 N.
(a) Initially, you hold onto the lighter bucket to keep it from moving. What is the
tension in the rope?
(b) You release the lighter bucket and the heavier one descends. What is the tension in
the rope now?
(c) Eventually the heavier bucket lands and the two buckets come to rest. What is the
tension in the rope now?
Explanation / Answer
a) T = 120 N
b) 120 - T = (120/g)a
T - 63 = (63/g)a
add them
120 - 63 = (120/g + 63/g)a
a = 3.05 m/s2
T = 120 - (120 x 3.05 /9.8) = 82.62 N
c) T = 63 N