Discuss the below:
Mechanics: Atwood Machine
Q: An Atwood machine consists of masses of 1.5 kg and 1.66 kg on opposite sides of a light frictionless pulley. The system is given an initial velocity of 1.15 m/s in the direction of the 1.5 kg mass.
Q1: How much work does gravity do on the system between the initial instant and the instant at which the system comes to rest, and how much work is done by the system against gravity during this time?
Q2: How far does the system therefore travel during this time (solve using energy considerations)?
Q3: How are the work done by the system and its kinetic energy change related?