Quick Answer: The Atwood Machine is a pulley on a support stand with two mass hangers joined by a light string, used to study acceleration, string tension and Newton’s second law when unequal masses are hung on each side.
Last updated: October 2026
Key Features
Pulley fixed at the head of a support stand
String with mass hangers at both ends and slotted weights
Scale for marking a measured distance of travel
Balanced first with equal masses, then a small extra mass is added to one side
Technical Specifications
Specification
Value
Main components
Support stand, pulley, string, mass hangers, slotted weights, scale
Use
Motion of two masses connected by a string over a pulley
Learning concepts
Acceleration, tension, force, mass difference, gravity, pulley motion, Newton’s second law
About This Product
After checking that equal masses balance and the pulley turns freely, students add a small extra mass to one side, release the system and time the fall over a measured distance with a stopwatch, timer or motion sensor. From the times they calculate the acceleration, compare it with theory and repeat with other mass combinations. The Atwood machine can be supplied on export terms to Belarus, Argentina, Colombia, Slovenia, Jamaica and Comoros.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is acceleration measured with the Atwood Machine?
Time the masses over a measured distance with a stopwatch, digital timer or motion sensor and calculate the acceleration from distance and time.
.jpg)
.png)