Question

A child that weighs 800 N swings on a swingset. When the child is at the lowest point in the arc, the total tension in the swing chains is 1040 N. What is the child's centripetal acceleration?

Answer 1

Given that weight of child, mg = 800 N

Total tension in the swing,T is 1040 N

We have to find centripetal acceleration, a.

There are total three forces, tension due to the string of swing, weight downwards and centripetal force due to the swing.

Hence, equation of motion can be written as

T-mg=a

Here, T acts in upward direction, mg and a in downward direction.

Substituting the values, we get

a=1040-800

a= 240 N

Thus, the centripetal acceleration is 240 N