Tarzan tries to cross a river by swinging from one bank to the other on a vine that is 8.2 m long. His speed at the bottom of the swing is 7.2 m/s. Tarzan does not know that the vine has a breaking strength of 1.0 ✕ 103 N. What is the largest mass that Tarzan can have and still make it safely across the river?

Question

kg

Answer 1

Fcentripetal = mAc = m v^2/R
= m (7.2)^2/8.2
Fgravity = m g = m (9.81)
so total force on vine =

m ( 9.81 + 7.2^2/8.2) = 10^3 Newtons

solve for m

Note: Tarzan just swam across the wild river from rock to rock with a vine around his waist and the natives are rebuilding their bridge now as we speak.

Answer 2

see:
http://www.gocomics.com/tarzan?ref=comics