Post History

The increase in tension from 15 N to 17 N happens because when you introduce masses and place them over a pulley, the dynamics of the system change. Without the pulley, forces directly oppose each other, and the tension matches the smaller force. However, adding masses introduces gravitational force, and the pulley allows for the redistribution of forces.

With the masses, the tension must balance both the weight of the masses and the gravitational pull. The pulley plays a crucial role because it changes the direction of the forces and allows the system to reach equilibrium at a new tension value. Essentially, the tension now has to counteract not just the direct forces, but also the effect of gravity on the masses, resulting in a higher tension value of 17 N.