APPLICATION OF SIMPLE

HARMONIC MOTION: THE SWING

Harmonic motions have always been a part of our life.
One of the examples would be the swing. When we
were small children, the swing was one of our favourite
pieces of equipment in the playground. But have you
ever thought about the physics behind swing?

AUSTIN MA
 HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE SWING'S
MOTION IS A SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
(NEGLECTING FRICTION AND AIR
RESISTANCE)?

The swing is an example of simple harmonic motion (neglecting friction and air resistance).
When no one is pushing or pulling you and you are not adjusting your body to change the
tension, you will be swinging back and forth with a constant frequency (and constant period).
You will experience a periodic motion that passes through equilibrium.

1) The periodic motion is caused by inertia and restoring

forces (tension and gravitational force).
2) The motion always passes through the equilibrium,
which is the position on the path closest to the ground.
3) Ideally, the amplitude will never change. It stays the
same when you are at the front and at the back.

4) The magnitude of horizontal displacement is

directly proportional to the magnitude of
tangential acceleration.

According to the trig identity sin

∵ β = (180 - θ) / 2
α = 90 - β
∴ α = 90 - (180 - θ) / 2
=θ/2
Δd^2 = L^2 + L^2 - 2(L)(L)cosθ
Δd = √(2L^2 -2L^2cosθ)
Δdx = cosα * Δd
= cosα *√(2L^2 -2L^2cosθ)
= cosα *√[2L^2 (1-cosθ)]
= cosα *L *√[2 (1-cosθ)]
According to the trig identity
cos(2x) = 1 - 2sin^2 x, we know that
θ = 2α. So we get:
Δdx = cosα *L *√{2 [1-(1-2sin^2 α)]}
= cosα *L *√(4 sin^2 α ）
= cosα *L *2sinα
= L * 2cosα sinα
(2x) = 2sinx cosx, we get:
Δdx = L * sin(2α)
Δdx = L * sinθ
Δdx / L = sinθ
We know that the tangential
acceleration is equal to the x-
component of the gravitational
acceleration. at = g*sinθ.
When we substitute Δdx / L = sinθ
in at = g*sinθ, we get:
at = g * Δdx / L
∵ g (gravitational acceleration)
and L (length of the string) never
change These 4 properties prove that a swing
∴ ∝at Δdx
∴ The magnitude of the is an example of simple harmonic
tangential acceleration is
proportional to the magnitude of motion, ignoring friction and air
the horizontal displacement
resistance.
 What forces act to produce this harmonic motion?

The restoring force is caused by the tension and

the gravitational force. In a tilted Cartesian plane,
the y-component of the restoring force is the
tension minus the y-component of gravitational
force (Frestoringy = FT - Fg cosθ). The x-
component of restoring force is the x-component
of gravitational force (Frestoringx = Fg sinθ).
Therefore, the magnitude of restoring force would
be √[(FT - Fg cosθ)^2 + (Fg sinθ)^2].

Swing in real life: damped harmonic motion

In the real world, when no one is pushing or pulling you and you
are not adjusting your body to change the tension, you will
gradually slow down and eventually stop swinging. This is called
damped harmonic motion. The damping is caused by the
resistive forces, which are the air resistance as well as the friction
between the ends of the swing chains and the top of the swing
set. The friction and the air resistance turn the kinetic energy into
thermal and sound energy, causing energy loss.

Analysis of the Energetics:

Ignoring the friction and air resistance, the total energy of the swinging person will not change
throughout the harmonic motion. The total energy includes kinetic energy and gravitational
potential energy.

If we consider the height of the equilibrium as the reference level:

1) When the displacement is equal to

the amplitude, the gravitational
potential energy will be at maximum;
the kinetic energy will be zero; the
speed will be zero; the acceleration will
be at maximum.
2) At the equilibrium, the gravitational
potential energy will be zero; the
kinetic energy will be at maximum; the
speed will be zero; the acceleration will
be zero.


In conclusion, the swing is a fascinating example of harmonic motion

that can be observed in everyday life. Neglecting the effects of friction
and air resistance, the swing will be a simple harmonic motion with
inertia and restoring forces acting on it. However, in the real world, the
swing is affected by resistive forces, causing a damped harmonic
motion. All in all, the physics of the swing remains an attractive topic,
reminding us that even the simplest of things can reveal the wonders of
science.