---
title: "A block of mass \\(m_1\\) rests on a frictionless horizontal tabletop and is connected to a light, inextensible string. The string passes over a frictionless pulley of negligible mass at the edge of the tabletop and connects to a hanging block of mass \\(m_2\\). The system is released from rest. In terms of \\(m_1\\), \\(m_2\\), and the acceleration due to gravity \\(g\\), which of the following expressions represents the magnitude of the tension in the string while the blocks are accelerating?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120573/"
date_modified: "2026-08-23T04:41:40+00:00"
---

# A block of mass \(m_1\) rests on a frictionless horizontal tabletop and is connected to a light, inextensible string. The string passes over a frictionless pulley of negligible mass at the edge of the tabletop and connects to a hanging block of mass \(m_2\). The system is released from rest. In terms of \(m_1\), \(m_2\), and the acceleration due to gravity \(g\), which of the following expressions represents the magnitude of the tension in the string while the blocks are accelerating?

A block of mass \(m_1\) rests on a frictionless horizontal tabletop and is connected to a light, inextensible string. The string passes over a frictionless pulley of negligible mass at the edge of the tabletop and connects to a hanging block of mass \(m_2\). The system is released from rest. In terms of \(m_1\), \(m_2\), and the acceleration due to gravity \(g\), which of the following expressions represents the magnitude of the tension in the string while the blocks are accelerating?

![A side-view diagram of a horizontal tabletop supported by a vertical table leg on the left. On the horizontal tabletop rests a rectangular block labeled \(m_1\). A horizontal line representing a string extends from the right side of block \(m_1\) to a small circular pulley mounted at the upper-right corner of the tabletop. The string passes over the top of the pulley and hangs vertically downward. Attached to the lower end of the vertical portion of the string is a second rectangular block labeled \(m_2\), hanging freely in the air below the level of the tabletop. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1787460099-XhVqX9.jpg)

- **A.** \(\dfrac{m_2^2 g}{m_1 + m_2}\)
- **B.** \(\dfrac{2 m_1 m_2 g}{m_1 + m_2}\)
- **C.** \(\dfrac{m_1 m_2 g}{m_1 + m_2}\)
- **D.** \(\dfrac{m_1^2 g}{m_1 + m_2}\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120573/*