Question

The figure shows two masses at rest. The string is massless and the pulleys are frictionless. The spring scale reads in kg. What is the reading of the scale?

Short answer

The reading of the spring scale is$5\mathrm{kg}.$

Step-by-step solution

Given information

The figure shows two masses of$5kg$ at rest. The string is massless and the pulleys are frictionless.

Explanation

The masses attached at the ends of the string will exert equal force on the string.

Since the pulley is frictionless and string is massless the tension will remain constant throughout the string and the tension will be equal to weight of 5 kg .

hence the reading of the spring scale will be $5\mathrm{kg}.$

Final answer

The spring scale reading is$5\mathrm{kg}.$