Answer
(a) Please refer to the free-body diagrams.
(b) $a = 3.75~m/s^2$
(c) $m = 2.48~kg$
(d) The tension is 9.3 N less than the weight of the hanging block.
Work Step by Step
(a) Please refer to the free-body diagrams.
(b) We can find the acceleration of the block on the horizontal surface.
$T = ma$
$a = \frac{T}{m} = \frac{15.0~N}{4.00~kg} = 3.75~m/s^2$
(c) We can set up a force equation for the hanging block.
$\sum F = ma$
$mg - T = ma$
$m = \frac{T}{g-a} = \frac{15.0~N}{(9.80~m/s^2)-(3.75~m/s^2)}$
$m = 2.48~kg$
(d) The weight of the hanging block is $(2.48~kg)(9.80~m/s^2)$, which is 24.3 N.
The tension is 9.3 N less than the weight of the hanging block.
