Physics of Swimming

Physics of Swimming

Title: The Physics of swimming.

General description: Swimming has many components to it. There is the initial dive into the pool, the stroke (freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, and breast stroke), breathing technique, kicking, stream line, and the flip turn. Each stroke and pattern is unique. Their basic principles are the same as freestyle. The freestyle uses the flutter kick and the swivel or "S" stroke that propels the body. The butterfly uses the dolphin kick; breast stroke uses the breast stroke kick. The kick helps propel the body through the water, while the stoke helps pull it. Swimmers also get into a rhythm with their kicking and pulling. A swimmer with a set rhythm and lots of practice will use less energy to travel the same distance as a swimmer with no rhythm. When pushing off the wall the body should be straight and sleek hands should be together and straight out. This reduces drag and helps a swimmer achieve a faster time. On the flip turn the body rotates, a tight ball is used to make the turn quick. The smaller the flip the faster the turn. Physics tells us that as an object is rotating, velocity is increased as the moment of inertia is decreased. There are many specific ways to swim and to decrease your time; you just have to know the physics of it!

Variables: KE, PE, speed, velocity, vector, momentum, mass, force, density, buoyancy, momentum

Equations:

Streamlining form: R = 1/2 DpAv^2

* P is the density of the water, which depends on the temperature.

* A is the surface area of the body traveling through the water.

* V is the velocity of the body traveling through the water.

* D is the constant for the viscosity of the fluid.

The density of water is 1 x 10^3 kg/m^3.