A toddler is on a playground swing. When she is all the way on the right, then ...
her tangential acceleration is maximal to the right.
her kinetic energy is maximal.
her tangential acceleration is maximal to the left.
her tangential acceleration is zero.
her velocity is maximal to the right.
none of the above is true.
Her kinetic energy and velocity are zero at that time.
Tangential acceleration is maximum and pointed left, but it also has a downward comonent.
I believe the best answer is none of the above, but the teacher may prefer the second choice. The question is poorly worded in my opinion.
her tangential acceleration is maximal to the left
I know this is definitely the answer, but I am not sure about the theory behind it.
To determine the correct answer, we need to understand the physics of a swing.
When a toddler is on a swing and positioned all the way to the right, let's consider the forces acting on them. The toddler's weight acts vertically downward, and the tension in the swing chain provides a centripetal force, pointing inward towards the center of the swing.
First, let's analyze the tangential acceleration. Tangential acceleration refers to the change in speed or direction of an object along a curved path.
When the toddler is all the way on the right, there is no change in speed or direction at that moment. Therefore, the tangential acceleration is zero.
Next, let's consider kinetic energy. Kinetic energy refers to the energy an object possesses due to its motion. The swing's kinetic energy fluctuates as the toddler moves back and forth.
When the toddler is all the way on the right, she has the highest potential energy but the lowest kinetic energy. As she swings back and forth, the potential energy decreases while the kinetic energy increases. Therefore, kinetic energy is not maximal when the toddler is on the right side of the swing.
Based on the information above, we can conclude that none of the options provided are true.
Please note that this explanation applies to a typical playground swing and assumes ideal conditions.