Research
The mathematics of playground swinging
Principal investigator: | Rehan SHAH |
Co-investigator(s): | Barbaros Zeren (SEMS undergraduate) and Yash Vagehla (SEMS undergraduate) |
This undergraduate student project involves modelling a playground swing system as an elaborated pendulum to investigate the mechanism of frequently adopted swing pumping strategies that are used to increase the amplitude of swinging through the input of additional energy into the system. An example of this, is the standing pumping strategy in which the rider’s repeated standing-squatting motion causes a change in the rider’s position relative to the suspending rope, which in turn leads to an energy boost and gain in swing amplitude.
The aim of this study is to construct a mathematical model to analyse the effect of the standing pumping strategy on the amplitude of oscillation using a combination of both analytical and computational methodologies, to better understand the dynamics of swing pumping.
Conference Presentations:
Zeren B, Vaghela Y and Shah R (2024). 'Sway and Play': The Mathematics of Playground Swinging at the following conferences:
- British Conference for Undergraduate Research, LSE, 25 Apr 2024 - 26 Apr 2024.
- Tomorrow's Mathematician Today Conference, University of Greenwich, 9 Mar 2024 - 10 Mar 2024.
- Queen Mary Festival of Education, 6 Mar 2024 - 7 Mar 2024.
- Queen Mary School of Engineering and Materials Science Industrial Forum, 6 Mar 2024 .