Question

A 28.0 kg child plays on a swing having support ropes that are 2.30 m long. A friend pulls her back until the ropes are 45.0 ∘ from the vertical and releases her from rest.
A: What is the potential energy for the child just as she is released, compared with the potential energy at the bottom of the swing?
B: How fast will she be moving at the bottom of the swing?
C: How much work does the tension in the ropes do as the child swings from the initial position to the bottom?

Answer 1

Answer

A)184.9J

B)=3.63m/s

C) Zero

Explanation:

A)potential energy of the child at the initial position, measured relative the her potential energy at the bottom of the motion, is

U=Mgh

Where m=28kg

g= 9.8m/s

h= difference in height between the initial position and the bottom position

We are told that the rope is L = 2.30 m long and inclined at 45.0° from the vertical

h=L-Lcos(x)= L(1-cosx)=2.30(1-cos45)

=0.674m

Her Potential Energy will now

= 28× 9.8×0.674

=184.9J

B)we can see that at the bottom of the motion, all the initial potential energy of the child has been converted into kinetic energy:

E= 0.5mv^2

where

m = 28.0 kg is the mass of the child

v is the speed of the child at the bottom position

Solving the equation for v, we find

V=√2k/m

V=√(2×184.9/28

=3.63m/s

C)we can find work done by the tension in the rope is given using expresion below

W= Tdcosx

where W= work done

T is the tension

d = displacement of the child

x= angle between the directions of T and d

In this situation, we have that the tension in the rope, T, is always perpendicular to the displacement of the child, d. x= 90∘ and cos90∘=0 hence, the work done is zero.