Final answer:
Tarzan moves through the jungle by swinging from a vine. If stationary, the tension in the vine equals his weight. Other primate adaptions for movement include prehensile tails and brachiation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The method used by Tarzan to move through the jungle is swinging from a vine. When we analyze the forces involved in Tarzan swinging or hanging motionless, it's crucial to consider a free-body diagram. If Tarzan is stationary, the tension in the vine (T) just above him would be equal to his weight (w), which is the force exerted on Tarzan by Earth's gravity. Therefore, T = -w, indicating that the tension force is in the opposite direction of the weight.
When navigating the jungle, Tarzan could also utilize other abilities like climbing or brachiation. Certain species like the tarsier have adaptions, such as prehensile tails and expanded parts on their fingers, allowing them to have an improved grasp for climbing. Moreover, some primates exhibit very long arms for brachiation, which is a form of movement that involves swinging from branch to branch. However, when Tarzan got older and decided to use stairs, he gained the added advantage of a simpler, less strenuous path that reduced the physical demand on his body compared to climbing a vine, despite the gravitational work being path independent.
Understanding these concepts helps reveal the physics behind Tarzan's methods of traversing the jungle and how changing to a different method can have certain benefits.