The Physics of Trapeze

The trapeze was invented in the 18th century by Leotard, the man who also invented the clothing worn on it, to which he gives his name. For most of its life it has been a popular attraction at travelling circuses. It is only recently that it has gained immense popularity worldwide, as a leisure pursuit, perhaps due to the same lust for an adrenaline rush that has spurned interest in bungee jumping and sky diving. Circuses as a whole had become increasingly common, with enterprises such as Cirque du Soleil, found in Disney World, and the Millennium Show in the London's Millenium Dome relying heavily on circus performers and trapeze artists.

The flying trapeze has also found a market as an expensive item to have at home. It is not an uncommon event in South Africa for the richer citizens to be invited to 'trapeze parties' where they will have a BBQ and fly on a trapeze in their host's garden. Circus schools have opened worldwide in major cities such as London. In the past two decades, Club Med has introduced circus schools to many of its holiday resorts worldwide. Trapeze at Club Med has become a tremendously popular activity among the GMs, the guests, who have the opportunity to practice and perform in weekly shows.

The trapeze itself is basically a horizontal bar, suspended by two vertical cables. Performers usually start by swinging from their arms underneath the trapeze, but the possibility for tricks is endless. They range from the relatively simple knee-hang, where the performer hangs upside from their knees, to more complex flips, and even being caught by someone on another trapeze.

In this project, I will investigate some of the key principals involved in the trapeze. On a simple level, the trapeze is very similar to a playground swing, and as such can often be modelled as a simple pendulum. The word 'simple' here is misleading, as even though the motion of a pendulum is quite easy to approximate, it is actually impossible to analyse analytically.

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