Posted by Larry Hoover on April 24, 2005, at 22:59:35
In reply to Re: Well, come join me on the swings then... » Larry Hoover, posted by alexandra_k on April 24, 2005, at 22:42:30
> :-(
> Well now my nightmares will probably return.No, really....instinct protects you. That point of zero g's, at true horizontal, is usually enough to trigger the "I think I'm high enough now" feeling. Going a little past that (which can happen when you go from leg extension and back out, to full upright, at the point of furthest forward motion), gives you the feel of zero gravity, and a little freefall. That's where your instincts kick in. Only people without sense for consequences carry on past that.
BTW, it's that motion from full extension to sitting upright that drives you up. It's the same effect as that of a skater pulling in her arms for a spin. Pull the weight closer to the center of the arc, and the velocity increases (and thus, height). It's like shortening the pendulum, while having a longer pendulum's momentum. The only way for the pendulum to accomodate that is to increase the height of the arc.
Enjoy the swings. They're *nearly* foolproof. I.e., only a fool could mess it up.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:485504
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050418/msgs/489071.html