How does the playground swing paradox defy Newton's third law?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the playground swing paradox and its implications for Newton's third law. Participants explore the mechanics of swinging, particularly how movements of the feet affect the swing's motion and the center of gravity. The conversation includes theoretical considerations and challenges to established principles of physics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes how moving feet forward while stopped causes the swing to accelerate backwards, raising questions about the mechanics involved.
  • Another participant explains that the torque exerted by the center of mass not being directly below the axis of rotation influences the swing's motion, suggesting that this torque builds up with repeated movements.
  • A different viewpoint posits that while the center of gravity can vary vertically, it does not move horizontally due to the nature of the swing's axis, likening the situation to a zero-gravity environment.
  • One participant challenges the understanding of how the center of gravity behaves when kicking forward, asserting that different responses to this action contradict Newton's third law.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express conflicting views on the behavior of the center of gravity and its relationship to the swing's motion. No consensus is reached regarding the implications for Newton's third law, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the complexity of the swing's mechanics, including the effects of torque and the center of mass, but do not resolve the underlying assumptions or definitions related to these concepts.

aviator
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you are stopped sat in a swing and move your feet forward, the swing will acelerate backwards

you are rocking in the swing (forward) you move your feet forward and the swing acelerate forwards

how is that?

before you say you rise and lower your center of gravity adequately let me point that if this was the case there would be no diference between kicking in the same direction than the rocking of the swing or not but it makes a great diference

:devil:
 
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The brief moment your center of mass is not directly below the axis of rotation, you've exerted a torque on the entire swing system. When you restabilize your center of mass, this torque is still acting since gravity is providing the force. Once you stabilize your CM you will no longer exert a torque on the system aside from what you already exerted in the beginning. Each displacement of your CM from the direct vertical due to that first swing will also exert a smaller torque than the one before it.

Repeating this is what builds up the torque.
 
i might be wrong but i think that when stopped if you move your feet forward ceratinly the swing moves backwards

but the center of gravity remains the same, you may vary the center of gravity vertically but not horizontally since the axe of the swing is the hold of vertical movement but it offers no resistance to horizontal movement, the efect in the horizontal axe while stopped is that of 0 gravity

in 0 gravity you can't expect to move your center of gravity by kicking with your legs

besides if by kicking forward you move your center of gravity backwards seems that while rocking in the swing is the oposite and you move the center of gravity forward as well

so when you kick forward where does the center of gravity move towards?
 
"so when you kick forward where does the center of gravity move towards?"

if you dare to answer this question know you are an ignorant

if you say the center of gravity moves backwards you are an ignorant because then the swing would brake the rocking and it doesn't happen

if you say that it moves forwards you are an ignorant because that goes against Newtons third principle

if you say the center of gravity doesn't move you are an ignorant because then how the hell does the swing rock
 

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