Funnest Swing

Our Project: 

During this project, our group worked on investigating tree swings. Then, we designed the best tree swing we could. 

The steps we took to complete this project were:

1. Determine what makes a swing fun. 

2. Looking at the videos provided, we took data, put it into a data table to determine which factors impact which other factors in the performance of a swing.

a. Determine when is the tension on the swing rope the highest? Determine the maximum tension on the swing rope.

b. Determine when is the tension on the swing rope the lowest? Determine the minimum tension on the swing rope.

3. Design our own tree swing.

4. Determine the number of connecting ropes, length of rope(s), period, maximum speed, arc length, angle, maximum height for your mass on the swing. Find the maximum and minimum tensions as you ride it.

After designing our swing and setting it up outside, we took data with varying amounts of leg kicks. First, we pushed one of our group mates on the swing and let them go without them kicking. We recorded and gathered the data. Then, we determined the forces behind the push, the period, tensions of the rope, angular velocity, angular acceleration, etc. We repeated this two more times with medium kicks and big kicks. Lastly, we began to add toque to the swing and found the data. Finally, We put all of our data and findings into a slideshow to present. 

Evidence of Work: 

Content

Maximum Velocity: The greatest speed at which the swing can swing is called velocity maximum. Using the conservation of energy and solving for velocity, we determined the maximum speed at which the swing could swing. Velocity is measured in meters per second (m/s).

Tension: tension is the pulling force transmitted axially by the means of a string, a cable, chain, or similar object. In this project, we calculated the minimum and maximum tension of the swing as a person rode it. Tension is a force, so it is measured in Newtons (N).

Torque: Torque is the rotating equivalent of linear force in physics. It's also known as the turning effect, moment of force, or rotational force. We increased torque by applying a push to the individual on the swing during this experiment. The torque is then calculated by multiplying the forces of these pushes by the radius of the force. Torque is measured in Newton-meters (Nm).

Energy: Energy, in physics, is the capacity for doing work. It may exist in potential, kinetic, thermal, electrical, chemical, nuclear, or other various forms. In this project, we had to solve for gravitational potential, kinetic translational, kinetic rotational, and work. Energy is measured in joules (J).

Pendulums: A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced sideways from its resting, equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward the equilibrium position. Our swing acted as a pendulum, and we used the equations for period of a pendulum that we had previously learned.

Simple harmonic motion: Simple harmonic motion is a type of periodic motion in which the restoring force on a moving item is proportionate to the amount of the object's displacement and acts to bring the object back to equilibrium. The beginning of the swing video, where our group mate was only swinging back and forth, was the harmonic motion of our swing.

Center of Gravity: A body's or system's center of gravity is the place at which the weight of the body or system acts. It is the same as the center of mass with uniform gravity. The center of gravity of Nithya on the swing was determined to aid in the calculation of both types of motion.

Angular Momentum: Angular momentum is the rotational counterpart of linear momentum. Any massive object that rotates about an axis carries angular momentum. We found the angular momentum of the Nithya-swing system, and calculated how it increased as outside forces (torque) was applied to the system. Angular momentum is calculated with the equation L=I⍵. It is measured in kilograms meters squared per second (kgm^2/s).

Angular Acceleration: In physics, angular acceleration refers to the time rate of change of angular velocity. We also calculated for the angular acceleration using the angular velocity to determine this 𝜶= ω/t . Angular acceleration is measured in radians per second squared (rad/sec^2).

Angular Velocity: In physics, angular velocity or rotational velocity, also known as angular frequency vector, is a representation of how fast the angular position or orientation of an object changes with time. Using our notes and equations we could calculate the angular velocity of the swing using the equation ω = v/r. Angular velocity in measured in radians per second (rad/s).

Moment of Inertia: The moment of inertia is a measure of a body's resistance to angular acceleration. To calculate the moment of inertia, we had to make various assumptions, one of which was the mass and length of a fraction of the person on the swing. We calculated the moment of inertia by assuming the legs are a rod and using a fraction of the mass on the swing. Moment of inertia is measured in kilograms meters squared (kgm^2).

Arc Length: When an object moves along a curve, the arc length is the linear distance traveled. C=2 pi r, where r is the length of the rope, was used to calculate the arc length of our swing. Arc length is a measurement of distance, in meters (m). 

Oscillation: Oscillation is the periodic or repeated shift of a measure around a central value or between two or more states, usually in time. The swing's oscillation as it traveled back and forth harmonically and rotationally was shown in our video. 

Period: The period of the swing's complete oscillation was used in this project. The period of our swing was calculated using the equation T = 2L/g. Period is a measurement of time, normally in seconds (s).

Reflection 

My group had a lot of fun with this project. We were really happy to construct a real swing we could use in front of the stem maker's space. I'd say throughout this project, my group worked really well together. From starting our ideas about where and how we should build a swing, to calculating all our data, we all listened to each other well and built off each other's ideas. Our group demonstrated good conscientious learning and character.  Throughout this project my group and I worked through a lot of different challenges in order to make accurate calculations. Thankfully we left a good amount of time for us to work through it. Managing our time and work through the whole unit and project was really important to our group's productivity and efficiency. I set goals for what I wanted to get done each class and what I wanted to get done before the next class, which proved to be very successful. Throughout this project we hit a few bumps, but having a positive mindset to work through the problems and critically think through them was vital to our success. Overall, I learned a lot more about the concepts and feel confident in applying them to real world situations. 

Two aspects of the project I think I can focus on for next unit would be communication and collaboration. Throughout the project I feel like I could have communicated more with my group. I think I could have added more questions into the conversation to help me understand concepts better at some points of the project. I feel like asking my group more questions would have saved me the time of doing research and reading through the textbook. For collaboration, I think our group could have done the work together more. We each tackled a different video for calculations separately. I think if we did everything together we could have helped each other more and bettered our understanding of the topic. Overall, I really enjoyed this project and think our final calculations are precise.