Skip to main content
Ch 05: Applying Newton's Laws
Chapter 5, Problem 5

In another version of the 'Giant Swing' (see Exercise 5.50), the seat is connected to two cables, one of which is horizontal (Fig. E5.51). The seat swings in a horizontal circle at a rate of 28.0 rpm (rev/min). If the seat weighs 255 N and an 825-N person is sitting in it, find the tension in each cable.
Diagram of a giant swing showing a seat at 40 degrees with a 7.5 m cable length.

Verified step by step guidance
1
Calculate the total weight of the system: the weight of the seat (255 N) plus the weight of the person (825 N).
Convert the rotational speed from revolutions per minute (rpm) to radians per second (rad/s) using the formula: \( \omega = \frac{2\pi \times \text{rpm}}{60} \).
Determine the centripetal force required to keep the system moving in a circle using the formula: \( F_c = m \omega^2 r \), where \( m \) is the total mass and \( r \) is the radius of the circle (7.5 m).
Resolve the forces acting on the system into horizontal and vertical components. The horizontal component of the tension in the angled cable provides the centripetal force, and the vertical components of both cables' tensions must balance the total weight.
Set up the equations for the horizontal and vertical force components and solve for the tensions in the horizontal cable and the angled cable using trigonometric relationships (considering the angle \( \theta = 40^\circ \)).

Verified Solution

Video duration:
6m
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Was this helpful?
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Find the tension in each cord in Fig. E5.7 if the weight of the suspended object is w.

5131
views
Textbook Question
In a laboratory experiment on friction, a 135-N block resting on a rough horizontal table is pulled by a horizontal wire. The pull gradually increases until the block begins to move and continues to increase thereafter. Figure E5.26 shows a graph of the friction force on this block as a function of the pull. (a) Identify the regions of the graph where static friction and kinetic friction occur.

1238
views
Textbook Question
Two crates connected by a rope lie on a horizontal surface (Fig. E5.37). Crate A has mass mA, and crate B has mass mB. The coefficient of kinetic friction between each crate and the surface is μk. The crates are pulled to the right at constant velocity by a horizontal force F Draw one or more free-body diagrams to calculate the following in terms of mA, mB, and μk: (b) the tension in the rope connecting the blocks.

913
views
Textbook Question
A picture frame hung against a wall is suspended by two wires attached to its upper corners. If the two wires make the same angle with the vertical, what must this angle be if the tension in each wire is equal to 0.75 of the weight of the frame? (Ignore any friction between the wall and the picture frame.)
597
views
Textbook Question
When jumping straight up from a crouched position, an average person can reach a maximum height of about 60 cm. During the jump, the person's body from the knees up typically rises a distance of around 50 cm. To keep the calculations simple and yet get a reasonable result, assume that the entire body rises this much during the jump. (c) In terms of this jumper's weight w, what force does the ground exert on him or her during the jump?
279
views
Textbook Question
A 45.0-kg crate of tools rests on a horizontal floor. You exert a gradually increasing horizontal push on it, and the crate just begins to move when your force exceeds 313 N. Then you must reduce your push to 208 N to keep it moving at a steady 25.0 cm/s. (c) Suppose you were performing the same experiment on the moon, where the acceleration due to gravity is 1.62 m/s2. (i) What magnitude push would cause it to move? (ii) What would its acceleration be if you maintained the push in part (b)?
306
views