Question

A block is attached to each end of a rope that passes over a pulley suspended from the ceiling. The blocks do not have the same mass. If the rope does not slip on the pulley, then at any instant after the blocks start moving, the rope: Select one:

a. pulls on both blocks, but exerts a greater force on the lighter block
b. pulls on both blocks, but exerts a greater force on the heavier block
c. pulis only on the lighter block
d. pulls on both blocks and exerts the same magnitude force on both blocks
e. does not pull on either block

Answer 1

The rope pulls on both blocks with the same force due to the tension being equal throughout the rope, confirming option d as the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a block is attached to each end of a rope that goes over a pulley, and the rope does not slip on the pulley, the rope exerts forces on the blocks due to tension. This tension is the same throughout the rope as long as it is considered massless and the pulley frictionless. Therefore, the correct answer is d. pulls on both blocks and exerts the same magnitude force on both blocks. The tension in the rope is equal at all points between the two blocks because of the properties of an idealized rope and pulley system according to Newton's third law. The force the rope exerts on each block is equal and opposite to the force the block exerts on the rope.