# Tarzan/vine physics problem on work/energy/power

1. Feb 2, 2014

### brnnpink4

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Tarzan swings across a valley on a vine. The vine is 6m in length. Tarzan has a mass of 85kg. The angle that the vine makes with the vertical in his initial position is 15 degrees. What is his speed at the bottom of the wing? What is the tension of the vine at this point?

All help is appreciated!!!!:)

2. Relevant equations

f=ma
p=mvcosx
PE-mgh
KE=.5mv^3
KE+PE+W=KEf+PEf

3. The attempt at a solution

KE=.5(85)v^2

PE=85(9.8)h
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

2. Feb 2, 2014

### jackarms

Try conserving energy for part one: what energy is gained, and what energy is lost?

For the second part, it's an example of uniform circular motion, and you can make use of this equation:
$a = \frac{v^{2}}{r}$

3. Feb 2, 2014

### brnnpink4

How would you figure out what energy is gained/lost??

4. Feb 2, 2014

### jackarms

Just think about the situation: he starts from rest, and then starts swinging: that's kinetic energy gained. If energy is gained in the system, then that means that somewhere else energy is lost. That's in the potential energy lost when he loses elevation from where he starts to the bottom of the swing.

5. Feb 2, 2014

### brnnpink4

So would you set kinetic energy and potential energy equal to eachother and solve for v?

6. Feb 2, 2014

### jackarms

Essentially, but remember that since the energies are changing, you need to find the changes in each of the energies, i.e. final - initial. Then sum those changes and set the result equal to zero (meaning energy is conserved).

7. Feb 2, 2014

### brnnpink4

Ok I think I got it! Thank You!