Pulley and tensions in string segments

[ritwik06]

Homework Statement

Here is a picture:
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/2509/pulleywl8.png

If both the hanged weights be the same, what would be tensions in the two segments of the strings if the string is massless, but the pulley has a large mass.

I think it would be the same and independent of the mass of the pulley (in equilibrium position). But my book mentions it otherwise! Why??

 

[tiny-tim]

If both the hanged weights be the same, what would be tensions in the two segments of the strings if the string is massless, but the pulley has a large mass.

I think it would be the same and independent of the mass of the pulley (in equilibrium position). But my book mentions it otherwise! Why??

Hi ritwik06!

If the masses are stationary, then from symmetry the tensions must be the same.

Are the masses moving? Is there friction between the rope and the pulley, or between the pulley and its own axle?

Can you show us more of what the book says?