# A toddler is on a playground swing. When she is all the way on the right, then: a. her tangential...

## Question:

A toddler is on a playground swing. When she is all the way on the right, then:

a. her tangential acceleration is maximal to the right

b. her kinetic energy is maximal

c. her tangential acceleration is maximal to the left

d. her tangential acceleration is zero

e. her velocity is maximal to the right

f. none of the above is true

## Energy Conservation Principle:

The energy conservation principle consists of a physical law that states that if no external forces act on the system, the total energy of the system should conserve. Energy is not created nor destroyed, it only transforms. This means that a system may present energy transformations, but the overall total energy of the system will remain the same. The total energy of a system can be determined by the sum of the total kinetic and potential energy of the system.

$$E_t=K_e+U_e\\ E_t=0.5mv^2+mgh$$

## Answer and Explanation:

Tangential acceleration:

When the toddler is on the swing all the way to the right, the tangential acceleration needs to be in direction of the current movement. The tangential acceleration can either be up or down if the swing is reaching or returning from the end of the swing. With this information, we can define answers a, c & d, as incorrect. This because the answers state the tangential acceleration going in the wrong direction, or stating that there is no tangential acceleration.

Kinetic Energy:

At the rightmost end of the swing, the ride will stop for an instant. The velocity at this point will be defined as zero, and as such, the swing won't have any kinetic energy stored within the system. We define answers b & e as incorrect. At the rightmost end of the swing, the kinetic energy can't be maximum as the system has stopped for an instant, and as such no velocity at that point in the trajectory.

The correct answer must be f. none of the above answers is true.

#### Learn more about this topic:

Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency: Examples and Differences

from Geography 101: Human & Cultural Geography

Chapter 13 / Lesson 9
108K