Question

The above picture shows a mother pushing her daughter sitting on a swing. The swing is going through the positions A, B, C where A and C are extreme positions and B is the mean position.

1. Which is the right position i.e. at A, B or C, for the mother to give a constant periodic push to the swing every time in the forward direction to increase the amplitude of the swing?
2. Name the phenomenon involved in this.
3. Explain with this example how this phenomenon helps to increase the amplitude of the swing.

Answer 1

1. At A
2. Resonance
3. The natural frequency of the swing will match the frequency of the force applied by the mother; this will increase the amplitude.