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Physics of Swimming Essay

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The study of physics and fluid dynamics in swimming has been a field of increasing interest for study in the past few decades among swimming coaches and enthusiasts. Despite the long history of research, the understanding of how to move the human body effectively through the water is still in its infancy. Competitive swimmers and their coaches of all levels are constantly striving for ways to improve their stroke technique and overall performance. The research and performances of today's swimmers are continuously disproving the beliefs of the past. Like in all sports, a better understanding of physics is enabling the world class swimmers to accomplish times never before thought possible. This was displayed on the grandest of …show more content…

Until the Australians began their first period of dominance in the 1950’s, swimmers thought the best way to reduce frontal resistance was to keep the body completely flat, riding on top of the water, in an effort to hydroplane.2 According to Cecil Colwin, the most effective way to reduce frontal resistance is rolling the body from side to side with the stroke, known commonly as body roll. Another cause of frontal resistance is lifting the head to high in the water while breathing, swimming or both. Not only does the greater area of the face catch water, but it also causes the lower body to sink.3 It is generally accepted that the first step in becoming a good swimmer is dealing with the effects of frontal resistance.

Skin Friction Skin friction is the kinetic friction of the swimmer's skin and suit with the water. This can be easily dealt with a couple of ways. The most popular method is to shave off all visible body hair, occasionally even the eyebrows, and cover the body with a generous layer of lotion. When a swimmer shaves their body hair they decreases the surface area of their skin. The velocity of the water at the point of contact is 0 m/s. The lower the surface area the less water there is traveling at 0 m/s.2 This is usually reserved for important races, for

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