Final answer:
The tension in the rope is equal to the weight of the supported mass.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tension in a rope is the force exerted by the rope when it is pulled taut by forces acting on its ends. In a uniform and massless rope (or string), the tension is the same throughout its length, assuming it is under uniform conditions.
Tension in the rope must equal the weight of the supported mass, as we can prove using Newton's second law. If the 5.00-kg mass in the figure is stationary, then its acceleration is zero, and thus Fnet = 0. The only external forces acting on the mass are its weight w and the tension T supplied by the rope. Thus, T - w = 0.