Hello everybody. Sorry if my question seems too stupid, but I am new to Physics so please tolerate with me.
Well recently a problem involving tension has been troubling me. Well there's a table with two pulleys at each side of the table. There are two strings, both connected to a 25 kg weight, with the other end connected to a spring balance (spring scale). When I hung the two weights with strings on the pulley, one on each side, with the spring balance on top of the table, what will be the reading of the spring balance? Please explain, as all I think of is 500 N, although the correct answer is 250 N.
I understand that this question was posted up in one of the topics but I am kind of confused as the problem is slightly different.
So am I right in thinking that the problem is actually referring to 'what is the tension of a string when both side is exerted a force of 250 N? So please help me in answering:
1) Answer of the question above, and explanation;
2) What is the definition of tension, and;
3) How a spring balance works(Is the reading on the spring balance same as the tension of string?);
4) If the two questions are not the same, what's the difference?
Thanks a lot.