Question

For background pertinent to this problem, review Conceptual Example 6. In Figure 5.7 the man hanging upside down is holding a partner who weighs 463 N. Assume that the partner moves on a circle that has a radius of 3.12 m. At a swinging speed of 8.17 m/s, what force must the man apply to his partner in the straight-down position?

Answer 1

The force P supplied by the man will be largest when the partner is at the lowest point in the swing. The diagram at the right shows the forces acting on the partner in this situation. The centripetal force necessary to keep the partner swinging along the arc of a circle is provided by the resultant of the force supplied by the man and the weight of the partner.