I’ve been thinking at this question for a good hour now, but I can’t wrap my mind around the physics involved. Wouldn’t bringing your legs back before the top of the swing (to “swing” them back and keep you going) negate what you’ve gained through the precedent leg throw because of energy conservation?
In: 7
One thing people haven’t mentioned yet is that your exerting force on the chain. You’re right that if you were somehow just floating in space, doing the kicking motion wouldn’t do anything because of conservation of momentum. However pulling your legs back on the back swing is like pulling on the chain, which generates potential energy. Imagine hanging on a static rope and bringing your legs up and down. Bring your legs up generates potential energy and letting them down releases that energy. Swinging just takes advantage of that and translates it into the forward and backward motion.
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