Explanation:
We can write Newton's 2nd law as applied to the sliding mass [tex]m_1[/tex] as
[tex]T - m_1g\sin38 = m_1a\:\:\:\:\:\:\:(1)[/tex]
For the hanging mass [tex]m_2,[/tex] we can write NSL as
[tex]T - m_2g = -m_2a\:\:\:\:\:\:\:(2)[/tex]
We need to solve for a first before we can solve the tension T. So combining Eqns(1) & (2), we get
[tex](m_1 + m_2)a = m_2g - m_1g\sin38[/tex]
or
[tex]a = \left(\dfrac{m_2 - m_1\sin38}{m_1 + m_2}\right)g[/tex]
[tex]\:\:\:\:= 0.30\:\text{m/s}^2[/tex]
Using this value for the acceleration on Eqn(2), we find that the tension T is
[tex]T = m_2(g - a) = (2.6\:\text{kg})(9.51\:\text{m/s}^2)[/tex]
[tex]\:\:\:\:=24.7\:\text{N}[/tex]
