Final answer:
The total acceleration of a massless tether with masses tied to both ends cannot be zero if it rotates with a constant angular velocity, due to the nonzero centripetal acceleration experienced by the masses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking whether the total acceleration of a massless tether with masses tied to both ends can be zero if rotating around a fixed axis with constant angular velocity. The answer is b) No.
In rotational motion, even if an object is spinning at a constant angular velocity, the masses tied to the tether experience a nonzero centripetal acceleration. This acceleration is necessary to keep the masses moving in a circular path and is directed towards the center of the rotation. Since the tether is considered massless, this acceleration applies only to the masses, not to the tether itself. Therefore, the total acceleration of the system cannot be zero when in circular motion with a constant angular velocity.