History Main / ThreeSixtyDegreeSwingSetSwing

[[youtu.be/zGNCEtg-acY?si=kODExrbFgbvmq6Jl It can, however, be done with swings that have rigid poles instead of chains.]] Just make sure you have a plan to slow down afterwards.

DontTryThisAtHome, as regular swings with chains/ropes are not made for 360-degree rotations, and as proven by the ''Series/MythBusters'', it's impossible for any person to perform under their own power. [[HereComesTheScience This is why]]: As you swing, your body wants to fall straight down, and it picks up speed as it does, but the chain won't let you go straight down: it turns that downward motion into forward (or backward) motion. When you hit the lowest point of the swing, you have some forward momentum, which the chain then pulls into upward motion. When your momentum is exhausted, you fall back down, and the whole thing repeats. But once you get to the point where the chain is horizontal, you are at a theoretical maximum. If you go any higher, causing your horizontal distance to the bar, then you will fall straight down instead of following the arc of the circle. The chain will go slack, and you will experience free fall until the chain is taut again, causing you to impact on the seat. The higher that this happens, the more energy is lost and the harder the impact.

It can, however, be done with swings that have rigid poles instead of chains.

Once the topic is brought up, expect a debate and at least one kid actually trying to do it. Most of these attempts predictably end in an EpicFail, but sometimes someone -- incredibly -- pulls it off. HowIsThatEvenPossible? Maybe only because the character is an unwise kid who [[AchievementsInIgnorance did not know it was impossible]].

It's a question many a kid playing on a schoolyard or playground swing set will eventually ask themself; can you go hard enough to make a full 360-degree swing over the bar?

Once the topic is brought up, expect a debate and at least one kid actually trying to do it. Attempts to make such a swing can either result in an EpicFail, or a surprisingly successful attempt.

DontTryThisAtHome, as regular swings with chains/ropes are not made for 360-degree rotations, and as proven by the ''Series/MythBusters'', it's impossible for anyone to perform under one's own power. [[HereComesTheScience This is why]]: As you swing, your body wants to fall straight down, and it picks up speed as it does, but the chain won't let you go straight down, it turns that downward motion into forward (or backward) motion. When you hit the lowest point of the swing, you have some forward momentum, which the chain then pulls into upward motion. When your momentum is exhausted, you fall back down, and the whole thing repeats. But once you get to the point where the chain is horizontal, you are at a theoretical maximum. If you go any higher, causing your horizontal distance to the bar, then you will fall straight down instead of following the arc of the circle. The chain will go slack, and you will experience free fall until the chain is taut again, causing you to impact on the seat. The higher that this happens, the more energy is lost and the harder the impact.

* ''VideoGame/WhatRemainsOfEdithFinch'': PlayedForDrama. Calvin Finch is a child who wants to be an astronaut and dreams of defying gravity. When you [[NestedStory play as him]], he is characterized as a FearlessFool who attempts to do this stunt on a swing. [[spoiler: It works, [[UnreliableNarrator if you believe it]]. It also results in his death: the swing sends him flying over a cliff.]]

* Played for drama in ''VideoGame/WhatRemainsOfEdithFinch''. Calvin attempting this is what [[spoiler:killed him, when he was flung from the swing and off the cliff ledge the swing was built atop.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Discussed in "Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore." When Bart and Lisa are on the swings, Bart claims he once swung all the way around. Lisa doesn't believe him, and he then lies that he knows someone who did... [[GirlfriendInCanada who Lisa doesn't know because he lives in Russia.]]

DontTryThisAtHome, as regular swings with chains/ropes are not made for 360-degree rotations, and as proven by the ''Series/MythBusters'', it's impossible for anyone to perform under one's own power. [[HereComesTheScience This is why]]: As you swing, your body wants to fall straight down, and it picks up speed as it does, but the chain won't let you go straight down, it turns that downward motion into forward (or backward) motion. When you hit the lowest point of the swing, you have some forward momentum, which the chain then pulls into upward motion. When your momentum is exhausted, you fall back down, and the whole thing repeats. But once you get to the point where the chain is horizontal, you are at a theoretical maximum. If you go any higher, causing your horizontal distance to the bar, then you will fall straight down instead of following the arc of the circle. The chain will go slack, and you will experience free fall until the chain is taught again, causing you to impact on the seat. The higher that this happens, the more energy is lost and the harder the impact.

DontTryThisAtHome, as regular swings with chains/ropes are not made for 360-degree rotations, and as proven by the ''Series/MythBusters'', it's impossible for anyone to perform under one's own power. [[HereComesTheScience This is why]]: As you swing, your body wants to fall straight down, and it picks up speed as it does, but the chain won't let you go straight down, it turns that downward motion into forward (or backward) motion. When you hit the lowest point of the swing, you have some forward momentum, which the chain then pulls into upward motion. When your momentum is exhausted, you fall back down, and the whole thing repeats. But once you get to the point where the chain is horizontal, you are at a theoretical maximum. If you go a little bit higher, then you are going to fall straight down, and the chain is going to go slack. It can however be done with swings that have rigid poles instead of chains.

It's a question many a kid playing on a schoolyard or playground swing set will eventually ask him/herself; can you go hard enough to make a full 360-degree swing over the bar?

* ''WebAnimation/BattleForBFDI'': "Why Would You Do This on a Swingset" uses these as the challenge for the episode. Each team has to spin around their swings fifty times in order to win. The contestants saw creative uses of these like using Black Hole's gravitational pull and using Fanny and Clock on the swing's fulcrums.

It's a question many a kid playing on a school yard or playground swing set will eventually ask him/herself; can you go hard enough to make a full 360-degree swing over the bar?

* ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'': In "Blast From the Past", Sniffles goes back in time to put up a net next to a swing set to prevent Giggles from getting blown off from the swing and into a garbage truck. Instead, she bounces off the net and back onto the swing, makes several 360 degree spins around the bar, and ends up crushed by the chain.

* ''WesternAnimation/BumpInTheNight'': In one episode Mr. Bumpy attempts to swing all the way around with the help of Squishington pushing him. He succeeds and gets turned inside out off screen, which is what he wanted in order retrieve the homework he had eaten.

* ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'': One sketch spoofing Nickelodeon's ''Inside-Out Boy'' (see above) has the character getting turned outside-in again. [[IJustWantToBeSpecial Not wanting to be normal]], he then tries to pull the swing stunt again to change back, but ends up going halfway over before [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome gravity pulls him down]] and he hits his head on the metal, killing him instantly.

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* ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'': Swinger Girl dreams of one day achieving a full 360-degree swing. In the episode ''Swing on Thru to the Other Side'', Spinelli believes she actually saw Swinger Girl achieve this, and promptly creates a cult based on her and attempts to do the swing herself. However, by the end of the episode, it's revealed Swinger Girl never made the swing; she leaped off at the last moment when her mother called her.

* Played for drama in ''VideoGame/WhatRemainsOfEdithFinch''. Calvin attempting this is what [[spoiler:killed him, when he was flung from the swing and off the cliff ledge the swing was built atop.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'': One sketch sporting Nickelodeon's ''Inside-Out Boy'' (see above) has the character getting turned outside-in again. [[IJustWantToBeSpecial Not wanting to be normal]], he then tries to pull the swing stunt again to change back, but ends up going halfway over before [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome gravity pulls him down]] and he hits his head on the metal, killing him instantly.

* ''WebAnimation/HappyTreeFriends'': In "Blast From the Past", Sniffles goes back in time to put up a net next to a swing set to prevent Giggles from getting blown off from the swing and into a garbage truck. Instead, she bounces off the net and back into the swing, makes several 360 degree spins around the bar, and ends up crushed by the chain.

* ''ComicStrip/LifeInHell'': [[https://lifeinhellarchives.tumblr.com/image/145260593697 One strip]] features Bongo trying out various "children's science experiments", many of which are dangerous, and one of them is "is it possible to go all the way around on a playground swing?".

Once the topic is brought up, expect a debate and at least one kid actually trying to do it. Attempts to make such a swing can either result in an EpicFail ,or a surprisingly successful attempt.

DontTryThisAtHome, as regular swings with chains/ropes are not made for 360-degree rotations, and as proven by the ''Series/MythBusters'', it's impossible for anyone to perform under ones own power. [[HereComesTheScience This is why]]: As you swing, your body wants to fall straight down, and it picks up speed as it does, but the chain won't let you go straight down, it turns that downward motion into forward (or backward) motion. When you hit the lowest point of the swing, you have some forward momentum, which the chain then pulls into upward motion. When your momentum is exhausted, you fall back down, and the whole thing repeats. But once you get to the point where the chain is horizontal, you are at a theoretical maximum. If you go a little bit higher, then you are going to fall straight down, and the chain is going to go slack. It can however be done with swings that have rigid poles instead of chains.

* ''ComicStrip/LifeInHell'': [[https://lifeinhellarchives.tumblr.com/image/145260593697 One strip]] features "children's science experiments", many of which are dangerous, and one of them is "is it possible to go all the way around on a playground swing?".

[[quoteright:350:[[ComicStrip/LifeInHell https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lifeinhell.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Good question]]