P4 2 Swing or Snap

Abstract

This paper discusses the maximum tension exerted on a massless rigid string that would allow
Spider-Man to swing without it breaking. We model Spider-Man as a mass on a string and solve
the equation of motion for a pendulum via Euler’s Method to model the tension T throughout
the string as a function of time. We found T_max to be 1969.06N, and then compared various
materials to determine which would work best under each of their breakpoint limits. We found
that a Nylon-based string would not be able to support Spider-Man and we suggest he invest in
Spider Dragline Silk.