A block with mass ma = 14.0 kg on a smooth horizontal surface is connected by a thin cord that passes over a pulley to a second block with mass mb = 6.0 kg which hangs vertically. determine the magnitude of the acceleration of the system.

We can assume that the horizontal surface has no friction and the pulley is massless. We can use Newton's second law to set up an equation. F = Ma F is the net force M is the total mass of the system a is the acceleration a = F / M a = (mb) (g) / (ma + mb) a = (6.0 kg) (9.80 m/s^2) / (6.0 kg + 14.0 kg) a = 58.8 N / 20 kg a = 2.94 m/s^2 The magnitude of the acceleration of the system is 2.94 m/s^2