Two blocks of equal mass, M each, are connected to two ends of a massless string passing over a massless pulley. On one side of the string there is a bead of mass `(M)/(2)` .
(a) When the system is released from rest the bead continues to remain at rest while the two blocks accelerate. Find the acceleration of the blocks.
(b) Find the acceleration of the two blocks if it was observed that the bead was sliding down with a constant velocity relative to the string.

Answer

(a) `a = (g)/(4)`
(b) ` a = (g)/(5)`