Two blocks connected by a light horizontal rope sit at rest on a horizontal, frictionless surface. block a has mass 17.0 kg , and block b has mass m. a constant horizontal force f

T = 35.52N

Explanation:

First, we will find the aceleration of the system with the following equation.

x =

where x is the distance, a the aceleration and t the time.

18m =

solving for a:

a = 1.44 m/s^2

Now, using the newton's laws:

F = ma

where F is the force, m the mass and a the aceleration.

So, we will replace that data in the equation as:

F = ma

60N-T = (17kg)(1.44m/s^2)

Finally, solving for T:

T = 35.52N