Calculating Gravitational Potential Energy in a Swinging Child

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To calculate the gravitational potential energy of a child in a swing, the relevant formula is Pe = mass x gravity x height. For a 40.0 kg child on a 2.00 m swing, when the ropes are horizontal, the height is indeed 2 m, resulting in a potential energy of 784 J. At the bottom of the swing's arc, the height is 0 m, leading to a potential energy of 0 J. Understanding how to determine height in relation to the swing's position is crucial for these calculations. This highlights the importance of recognizing the swing's vertical position when calculating gravitational potential energy.
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
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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