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AP Physics C: Mechanics
3.4 Conservation of Energy
3.2 Work
IntermediateMCQConceptual21.5k
A schematic showing a horizontal tabletop supported on the left by a vertical leg. On the tabletop rests a rectangular block labeled \(m_1\). A horizontal line representing a string extends to the right from \(m_1\) to a circular pulley mounted at the right corner of the tabletop. The string passes over the pulley and extends vertically downward to a second rectangular block labeled \(m_2\), which hangs freely above a horizontal floor. An arrow pointing downward adjacent to \(m_2\) is labeled \(d\). No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.
Block 1 on a horizontal tabletop connected to hanging block 2 via a pulley.
Block 1 of mass \(m_1\) rests on a frictionless horizontal tabletop and is connected by a light, inextensible string passing over a frictionless, massless pulley to hanging block 2 of mass \(m_2\).

The system is released from rest, and block 2 accelerates downward through a vertical distance \(d\) while block 1 remains on the tabletop.

In terms of the magnitude of the string tension \(T\) and the distance \(d\), which of the following correctly gives the changes in mechanical energy \(\Delta E_1\), \(\Delta E_2\), and \(\Delta E_{\text{sys}}\) for the block 1–Earth system, the block 2–Earth system, and the two-block–Earth system, respectively?

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