The Atwood Machine: Mass of Uniform Disk

Understanding the Mass of the Pulley in the Atwood Machine

The Atwood Machine is a classic physics problem that involves two masses connected by a rope passing over a pulley. In this scenario, the pulley is typically approximated as a uniform disk with certain mass and radius values. One of the key parameters in this setup is the mass of the pulley itself.

Given Information: The mass of the uniform disk used to approximate the pulley is specified as mp = 6.13 kg and the radius is rp = 0.450 m.

Explanation: In the context of the Atwood Machine problem, the mass of the pulley, approximated as a uniform disk, is explicitly provided as 6.13 kg. This specific value is crucial for determining the dynamics of the system, including factors such as acceleration and tension.

When solving problems related to the Atwood Machine, understanding the mass of the pulley is essential for accurate calculations and analysis. The mass of the pulley influences the overall behavior of the system and affects how the masses move in response to gravitational forces.

Therefore, in the case of approximating the pulley as a uniform disk in the Atwood Machine problem, the correct answer to the question regarding the mass of the pulley is (a) 6.13 kg.