Atwood's Machine

This is a simple simulation of Atwood's machine problems.

The Atwood 1 page shows two hanging masses pulling the system in opposite directions.  Possible uses include:

• Set initial conditions, predict the resulting acceleration of the system, then run the animation to check.

The Atwood 2 page has the friction force between the left mass and the table opposing the pull from the hanging mass.  The friction can be adjusted from frictionless to a static coefficient of 1.0.  The coefficient of kinetic friction is assumed to be 0.05 less than the coefficient of static friction, except for very small values.  Possible uses include:

• Set initial conditions. Will the system move?
• If it moves, predict the resulting acceleration of the system, then run the animation to check.
• If it doesn't move, what is the minimum hanging mass needed to start it moving?

All controls except the reset button are disabled while the animation is running.

The pulley and string are assumed to be frictionless and massless.