Two blocks A and B with mA = 2.6 kg and mB = 0.81 kg are connected by a string of negligible mass. They rest on a frictionless horizontal surface. You pull on block A with a horizontal force of 6.5 N. Determine the tension in the string connecting the two blocks.

To determine the tension in the string connecting the two blocks, we will use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass (F = ma).

Since the surface is frictionless and the force is applied horizontally, we can assume that the acceleration is the same for both blocks because they are connected. The total force is applied to block A, which will also pull block B by the string.

First, we need to find the total mass of the system: m_total = mA + mB m_total = 2.6 kg + 0.81 kg m_total = 3.41 kg

Next, we need to find the acceleration of the system: F_total = 6.5 N (the force applied to block A) a = F_total / m_total a = 6.5 N / 3.41 kg a ≈ 1.91 m/s²

Now that we have the acceleration, we can find the force necessary to cause block B to accelerate at this rate (which will be the tension in the string because no other forces are acting on block B):

Tension (T) = mB * a T = 0.81 kg * 1.91 m/s² T ≈ 1.55 N

Therefore, the tension in the string connecting the two blocks is approximately 1.55 N.