Calculating Gravitational Potential Energy in a Swinging Child

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating gravitational potential energy (PE) for a 40.0 kg child in a swing with 2.00 m long ropes. The formula used is PE = mass x gravity x height. Participants confirmed that the height is 2.00 m when the ropes are horizontal (condition A) and 0 m at the bottom of the swing's circular arc (condition B). This clarification helped the original poster understand how to apply the formula correctly.

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  • Understanding of gravitational potential energy formula
  • Basic knowledge of physics concepts such as mass and height
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  • Study the principles of gravitational potential energy in more complex systems
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  • Explore the effects of varying mass and rope length on potential energy
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floydzeppelinfan
Ok, this question is really making me mad... Keep in mind I just started to learn physics, so I'm not exactly a genious or anything...
but anyway here is the question:

A 40.0 kg child in a swing that is attatched to ropes 2.00m long. Find the gravitational potential energy associated with the child relative to the child's lowest position under the following conditions...

A. when the ropes are horizontal
B. at the bottom ofa circular arc


Now i understand that the formula is Pe = mass x gravity x height

BUT HOW MUST I FIND THE HEIGHT? i am just going back and forth on this one, any help is appreciated..
 
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wouldn't the height in part A be 1 ?
 
OOOOOOOO that just hit me like a wall, thank you... just to confirm this , the height is 2 on A and 0 on B
 

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