Swinging Tarzan: Solving for Maximum Height & Angle

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a scenario where Tarzan runs and grabs a vine, swinging upward. The objective is to determine the maximum height he reaches and the angle the vine makes with the vertical. The subject area relates to mechanics, specifically energy conservation in a pendulum-like motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply the conservation of energy principle but expresses uncertainty about the relevance of mass and the length of the vine in the calculations. Some participants question the necessity of the vine's length in determining height, while others clarify that mass cancels out in the energy equation.

Discussion Status

Participants have engaged in clarifying the application of the conservation of energy equation. Guidance has been provided regarding the cancellation of mass and the use of specific quantities. There is an ongoing exploration of how the length of the vine factors into the problem.

Contextual Notes

The original poster notes a lack of prior coverage on pendulum problems, which may influence their understanding of the situation. There is also an indication of uncertainty regarding the initial conditions and parameters of the problem.

physicshelppls
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Homework Statement


Tarzan runs at 6 m/s and grabs a vertical vine (negligible mass) of length 4.1 m which is tied to a branch at the top. Tarzan then swings up.

Determine the maximum height Tarzan will swing up and the maximum angle the vine will make with respect to vertical.

Homework Equations


mgh = 1/2mv2 ?

The Attempt at a Solution


I did a problem about the height of the swing previously, but mass was given. I would solve for m if height was given, but neither are so I'm not sure where to begin. I'm sure there is another equation. Is this a pendulum problem? We haven't covered much on pendulums. Sorry if this is not enough for an attempt at a solution.
 
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Hi physicshelppls,

Welcome to Physics Forums!

Notice that in your relevant equation that the mass cancels on each side? You can proceed to analyze the problem leaving 'm' in as a variable, but your relevant equation implies that it will cancel out along the way.

In fact, it is common in physics to use what are called "specific quantities", where energies for example are specified in terms of Joules per kilogram (J/kg). So your conservation of energy formula becomes gh = 1/2v2.
 
Oh wow, I feel dumb for not even noticing that. So does the length of the vine not matter in finding the height?

9.8h = 1/2(6)2 and I just solve for h to get the answer to the first part?
 
physicshelppls said:
Oh wow, I feel dumb for not even noticing that. So does the length of the vine not matter in finding the height?
Nope, doesn't matter.
9.8h = 1/2(6)2 and I just solve for h to get the answer to the first part?
Looks good.
 

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