Atwood Machine

Simulation Information

This simulation consists of two weights connected by a massless string over an ideal massless pulley.

You can control the simulation using these variables:

• Mass 1: The mass of the red weight
• Mass 2: The mass of the blue weight
• Angle: The angle of the incline that the blue weight sits on
• Gravity: The acceleration due to gravity

The simulation also contains these output measurements:

• Time: The time that has passed
• Displacement: The current displacement of the blue weight
• Velocity: The current velocity of the blue weight
• Acceleration: The current acceleration of the blue weight

Controls:

• Use the start and stop buttons to start and stop the simulation
• Use the step button to advance the simulation by 0.01 seconds
• Use the reset button to restore the simulation to its initial state

Equations:

• \( a = { F_{net} \over m_1 + m_2 } = { m_1 \cdot g - m_2 \cdot g \cdot sin{ \theta } \over m_1 + m_2 } \)
  • \(a\) is the acceleration of the blue weight
  • \(F_{net}\) is the net force on the blue weight
  • \(m_1\) is the mass of the red weight
  • \(m_2\) is the mass of the blue weight
  • \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity
  • \(\theta\) is the angle of the incline that the blue weight sits on
• \( v = { a \cdot t } \)
  • \(v\) is the velocity of the blue weight
  • \(a\) is the acceleration of the blue weight
  • \(t\) is the time that has passed
• \( x = { {1 \over 2} \cdot a \cdot t^2 } \)
  • \(x\) is the displacement of the blue weight
  • \(a\) is the acceleration of the blue weight
  • \(t\) is the time that has passed