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Two blocks are suspended from the ceiling as shown. What is the tension in the string connecting the blocks?

a) Equal to the weight of Block A
b) Equal to the weight of Block B
c) Greater than the weight of Block A
d) Greater than the weight of Block B

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The tension in the string connecting two blocks suspended from the ceiling is greater than the weight of Block A but less than the weight of Block B, given that the system is accelerating.

Step-by-step explanation:

When two blocks are suspended from the ceiling and connected by a string, the tension in the string must be sufficient to accelerate both blocks without breaking. The tension is not merely equal to the weight of either block but is related to the acceleration of the system and the weight of the suspended blocks. Since both blocks accelerate together and there is no friction in the pulley, the tension is the same throughout the string. Given the requirement for further information such as the system's accelerations or other forces acting on the blocks, we cannot specify an exact value for the tension without additional details. However, we can confidently say that the tension in the string connecting the blocks is greater than the weight of Block A but less than the weight of Block B when the blocks are accelerating. This is because the free-body diagram illustrates that Block B's weight must be larger than the tension to allow for acceleration (T < m2g).

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