MadSci Network: Physics |
Lately I've been wondering about a very common phenomenon. When my little girl swings on her swingset, she uses a pumping motion with her legs (leaning back and sticking her legs out then leaning forward and pulling her legs under her)that makes her swing higher and higher without me pushing her. How is it that she is putting more energy into this system so that she swings higher? How can explain the phenomenon in terms of forces? I have a hypothesis but not the means to test it. Please help