Why can't you push a swing just anytime?
Swing's Secret Rhythm
Why can't you push a swing just anytime?
You're at the playground, friend on the swing, ready to help. You give a big push… then another… then another, whenever you feel like it. But something weird happens: sometimes your pushes make the swing go higher, and sometimes they seem to do almost nothing. What's going on?
Here's the secret: every swing has its own rhythm, like a heartbeat. Push a friend gently and let go—they'll swing back and forth at exactly the same speed every time. That speed is the swing's "natural frequency." A long chain swings slowly; a short chain swings quickly.
