Identify the forces acting on a hanging mass in a simple pulley system.

Identify the forces acting on a hanging mass in a simple pulley system.

• A. Gravity downward and Normal upward
• B. Gravity upward and Tension downward
• C. Gravity downward and Tension upward
• D. Tension upward and Normal downward

Answer: (C)

In a simple pulley setup with a mass hanging, the two forces on the mass are gravity pulling downward and the rope’s tension pulling upward. The mass isn’t resting on a surface, so there’s no normal force. The vertical forces determine the motion: if tension exceeds weight, the mass accelerates upward; if weight exceeds tension, it accelerates downward. You can summarize the vertical forces with T - mg = m a, where upward is positive.

In a simple pulley setup with a mass hanging, the two forces on the mass are gravity pulling downward and the rope’s tension pulling upward. The mass isn’t resting on a surface, so there’s no normal force. The vertical forces determine the motion: if tension exceeds weight, the mass accelerates upward; if weight exceeds tension, it accelerates downward. You can summarize the vertical forces with T - mg = m a, where upward is positive.