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When a weight is at rest the tension in the rope is exactly half its weight.

Problem asks which weight would be first to raise (not "not be at rest" that could be going down) so that's why I'm supposing the guy can pull the whole thing. I'm also saying the first one is C (closer to guy).




The tension in the rope is greater than 30lbs, yet only one weight moves? I give up.


sorry; I made an edit with a clarification.

Basically if the weights are at rest on the floor then mkn's answer is the correct one. If they are at rest on the air, then my answer is the correct one.


No: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1659676

(this comment assumes that the weights are unsupported).


I supposed the system was at equilibrium without making the numbers. If it's not (as it seems) then sure, my reasoning is invalid and he's right, no problem.




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