Final answer:
The small gear is turning at 1,205 RPM.
Step-by-step explanation:
The small gear has 17 teeth, while the larger gear has 85 teeth. Since they are connected, the speed ratio between the small gear and the large gear is equal to the ratio of their number of teeth. In this case, the speed ratio is 85/17 = 5.
Given that the large gear is turning at 241 RPM, we can calculate the speed of the small gear by multiplying the speed ratio by the speed of the large gear. Thus, the speed of the small gear is 5 * 241 = 1205 RPM.
Therefore, the correct answer is option (a) 1,205 RPM.