Laws of Motion
Class 11 · Laws of Motion
Atwood's Pulley
Two masses over a pulley — live acceleration and tension from a = (m₂−m₁)g/(m₁+m₂).
Key Notes
01
Two masses m₁ and m₂ over a massless, frictionless pulley.
02
a = (m₂ − m₁)g / (m₁ + m₂), with heavier mass falling.
03
Tension T = 2m₁m₂g / (m₁ + m₂).
04
For equal masses, a = 0 and T = mg.
Formulas
Atwood acceleration
Shared magnitude of acceleration.
Atwood tension
Same throughout ideal string.
Important Points
T is always between m₁g and m₂g (harmonic mean).
Atwood's Pulley notes from sciphylab (also known as SciPhy, SciPhy Lab, SciPhy Labs, Physics Lab). Class 11 physics revision for JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, NEET UG, AP Physics 1/2/C, SAT, and CUET-UG.