Posted by Damos on April 24, 2005, at 19:49:07
In reply to Re: Well, come join me on the swings then... » 10derHeart, posted by alexandra_k on April 24, 2005, at 18:50:10
> And I'm sure Damos will give you a push.
I'd love to :-)
>
> Incase anybody knows...
>
> Is it possible to swing right round over the top?
> Or will you get up there in the air and then just splat down again?
> Or is either option somehow prevented?
> I worry about this a lot...delving way, way back to my physics days there are a combination of forces at play here, centripetal and centrifugal. In theory yes it is possible if the required amount of force (momentum) could be created. The mens high bar in Olympic gymnastics is an example. The key difference being that on the swing the weight is on the circumference not toward the centre as with the gymnast. Think about trying to roll a tyre that has a big lead weight stuck in it. As you try to roll it the weight makes it harder and harder to roll the higher it gets until it gets pst the vertical where the weight begins to act in your favour due to gravity and accelerate downwards at 9.8m per second thereby creating enough momentum to push it up the otherside.
Does that make any sense? Suffice to say, you don't really need to worry Alex, that amount of force required to push an adult over the top would be considerable. You'd probably be lucky to swing through an arc of 270 degrees.
poster:Damos
thread:485504
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050418/msgs/488972.html