Two blocks connected by a massless, rigid rod slide on a surface inclined at an angle of 20°. The lower block has a mass m₁ = 1.2 kg, and the upper block's mass is m₂ = 0.75 kg. 

(a) If the coefficients of kinetic friction are µ_k = 0.3 for the lower block and µ_k = 0.2 for the upper block, what is the acceleration of the blocks? 

(b) Determine the force transmitted by the rod.