[![enter image description here][1]][1] [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/UWMvD.png The goal is to find $a0$ I already have the solution, however, I have a few questions. 1)In the solution they have taken $m2$'s acceleration relative to the ground to be $a0-a$ downwards. However, if $a>a0$, then wouldn't the acceleration relative to the ground end up being being upwards? In that case, how is assuming the acceleration downwards and being equal to $a0-a$ correct? 2) If viewed from the accelerating frame of the movable pulley, pseudo force upwards = $m2a0$ therefore, the eq of motion for m2: $T-m2g+m2a0 = m2a$ => $T-m2g = m2(a-a0)$ Why does the pseudo force method lead to an answer that is "biased" towards $m2$ accelerating upwards relative to the ground? i.e assuming $m2$ will be accelerating upwards from the ground frame? The final answer is $a0 = g/(1+(m1/4)(1/m2 + 1/m3))$