Mathematics

Mathematics

Problem

A belt passes tightly around two pulleys of radii 10 cm10\,\text{cm} and 4 cm4\,\text{cm}. The distance between their centers is 12 cm12\,\text{cm}. Determine if this configuration is physically possible for a non-crossing belt, and if so, explain why. If the distance were 20 cm20\,\text{cm}, calculate the length of the segment of the belt strictly between the contact points (the external tangent segment).

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