Can Physics Explain the Thrilling Feat of Tightrope Walking?

[Worfie]

Hello,

So the main features of the physics of tight roping, would be concepts such as tension in the rope, center of mass, and rotational inertia?

Does anyone else have any ideas? this would be related to the physics of circus act in which someone is walking across a rope.

Cheers!

 

[Simon Bridge]

Welcome to PF;
Don't forget friction with the rope, elasticity of the rope, elasticity of the bar, and Newton's laws of motion.
It can get arbitrarily complicated: what is this for?

 

[Worfie]

It is for a science presentation. We have to discuss the physics of the circus.

 

[Simon Bridge]

Then it should be substantially your own work?
What level education is this supposed to be at?

What you do is go watch tight-rope walkers and analyze their actions like you would any regular physics exercize.
http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/211_fall2010.web.dir/Tyler_Kornfield1/Physics.html
http://www.realclearscience.com/video/2012/06/19/walking_a_tightrope_over_niagara_falls.html

 

[Worfie]

It is a high school presentation, and it does not necessarily have to be my own work.

 

[Simon Bridge]

Oh well then - start with the two links.

 

[Danger]

Oh well then - start with the two links.

The second one says "Video not available."
Don't you also have to deal with all of the vagaries of wind in an outdoor situation, or is that considered a separate issue?

 

[Worfie]

That would be negligible, because it is inside a building (the circus).

 

[Danger]

I couldn't be sure that you meant it that way, since there as many outdoor circuses as indoor ones.