In the situation shown, a heavy wheel with a small drum attached is suspended by its frictionless axle from a ceiling. Attached to strings around the rims of the wheel and drum are two blocks of equal mass. The system is originally at rest. When the blocks are released.

Options

A. Nothing happens, since the blocks have equal mass.
B. The right hand block falls and the left hand one rises, with acceleration of the same magnitude.
C. While the blocks are moving, the tension in the right hand string is less than that in the left hand string.
D. Which block falls depends on the moment of inertia of the wheel–drum system.

Answer

C