Swings: push in rhythm

Three identical swings: no pushes, pushes along the motion and pushes against it. Rules push the seat as it passes the lowest point.

2D Age 6+10 min OscillationsEnergyLogic & robots

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Press “Run”. Bodies move by the laws of physics: gravity, friction, elasticity.

What the experiment shows

A swing builds up when you push it in time with its own swinging — along its motion. A push against it damps the swing. This is resonance.

How to run it

Press “Run” and compare the swing of the three seats after 20 seconds.
Open the “Logic” tab and see which way each rule pushes.
Make the push twice as strong — what changes?

Questions to discuss

Why do the left swings slowly stop?
Why push exactly at the lowest point?

The science

Every push along the motion adds speed and energy; a push against it removes some. When pushes repeat at the swing’s own period, energy accumulates and the swing grows. The period is independent of the swing size: T = 2π√(L/g).

Try it at home

At a playground push a swing at different moments: at the lowest point and at the top.

What to change in the editor

Change the rope length — how does the rhythm change?
Remove the damping from the middle swing (ld = 0).