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  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Giant Swing

Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
  • Problem
  • Getting Started

A giant swing is an artistic gymnastics element in which a gymnast rotates around an axis while in a fully extented position.

1) What is the minimum angular speed of the gymnast to make such a swing?

2) Find the force required by the arms to keep spinning.

3) Suppose that a gymnast makes one spin per second. Calculate his angular speed and the force on the arms at the bottom and the top positions.

State any assumptions that you make.

The picture is taken from http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/320527/view.

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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