Circus science by Marcia Amidon lusted, Wha this the science behind the swinging trapeze? A. The trapeze performers body acts as a pendulum b. The trapeze swing acts as a downward kinetic spiral c. The net below stops the performers potential energy d. When the trapeze artist jumps from the swing they land on the net

Answer 1

A. The trapeze performer's body acts as a pendulum.

The swinging trapeze relies on the principles of physics, particularly the conservation of energy and the mechanics of a pendulum. As the trapeze performer releases from the bar, their body becomes a pendulum, swinging back and forth until they reach the other side or are caught by a catcher. The performer's body converts potential energy into kinetic energy as they swing, using their momentum to perform various tricks and maneuvers. The net below serves as a safety precaution, helping to absorb some of the kinetic energy if the performer falls or misses a catch.