What makes a swing go higher — a big push, or the right timing?

Sometimes the gentlest little taps send a swing sky-high. Other times a really hard shove barely moves it at all. So what actually decides how high it goes — how HARD you push, or WHEN you push? Let's go push some swings and find out.

1Two things to notice about a swing

A swing has its own beat — and a push can help or fight it

You only need two ideas. Watch each one:

A swing keeps its own beat

Let a swing go and it swings back and forth at the same steady rhythm — tick, tock, tick, tock. For gentle swings, changing the height barely changes that beat. That beat is the swing's own.

A push can help or fight

Push the way the swing is already going and you give it energy. Push gently against it while it is coming back at you, and you slow it down. Same push — opposite results.

2Two ways to push, same strength

The help push vs the fight push

Both pushers shove exactly as hard. The only difference is when they let go:

On the beat

The help push

You push forward right as the swing starts moving forward — going with it. The push adds to the motion.

Off the beat

The fight push

You push forward while the swing is coming back at you — meeting it head-on. A gentle push against its motion slows it down.

3Your turn — push the swing yourself

Tap to push. Can you make it go high?

Tap Push to give the swing one little shove. Every tap is the same gentle strength. Watch the glowing beat-marker at the bottom — see if you can feel when a push helps and when it fights.

How high: 0%

Tap Push a few times and watch what happens…

4Now try a mixed pattern of pushes

Can the little taps win when only half go with the motion?

Both swings get 14 pushes. The left gets stronger pushes, each aimed against its motion. The right gets smaller taps that alternate: against, with, against, with. Only 7 of its 14 taps go with the motion. Which reaches the higher peak?

Guess before you race

The starting swing, friction, push spacing, and push count are fixed. The right swing now has a mixed pattern you have not tried. Predict its highest point compared with the left.