Yet Another Tension Problem

[Psi]

I am working out a homework problem in which two unequal masses are on either end of a rope, which is wrapped around a pulley. The problem asks what the tension is in the part of the rope holding "(a) the lighter block, and (b) the heavier block". The solution manual reports different answers for these parts, but I thought tension was always the same in the same rope...?

Am I right? If not, could you explain what is happening in this problem?

Thanks a lot!

--Psi

[Doc Al]

Originally posted by Psi
The solution manual reports different answers for these parts, but I thought tension was always the same in the same rope...?

Tension would be the same if the rope were massless and the pulley were massless and frictionless. Consider that the rope exerts torque on the pulley.