When swimmers dive into the water, they fight more than nerves, physical exhaustion and (possibly) other competitors - they struggle with the laws of physics. These laws, some of which are unique to the aquatic environment, have long forced scientists and engineers to develop methods to overcome them in order to successfully increase the speed of navigation. The end result of their exhaustive research (until now), however, rejected the notion of “overcoming” the laws of physics. But they showed that these laws can be manipulated to a significant effect - if you understand the physics of swimming.
Swimming physics
This may be a cruel joke of nature, but the biggest limit to the speed of a swimmer is the water in which he swims. Water is about 1000 times denser than air and, as such, quickly (and sometimes strongly) impedes movement. This effect is known as drag and drop, and is especially dangerous for swimmers.
Burden. Scientifically, resistance is a persistent force on a moving body that passes through (in this case) water. The resistance force is due to many factors, such as the speed of a moving body, the surface area of the body and the density of water in which the body moves. As a rule, the faster the body moves through the medium (air or water), the stronger the resistance (dragging) to such a movement.
Dragging not only affects swimmers. Most likely, all moving objects, such as cars, airplanes and cyclists, are subject to persistent resistance forces. However, the properties of the aquatic environment significantly increase this effect. Indeed, efforts to increase the speed of swimming in such an environment represent a swimmer, not only for one, but also for three different resistance forces.
Three drag forces
The three main resistance forces that affect swimmers include friction, pressure and characteristic impedance. Each of these forces adversely affects the speed of a swimmer.
The frictional resistance is caused by the swimmer’s body, which continuously wipes water molecules. This friction slows down the swimmer’s forward momentum (as well as the force felt during the ocean swamp). However, frictional resistance is also considered useful for a swimmer because it serves to move the swimmer forward.
Dragging the pressure is caused by an increase in swimmer speed. As the speed of swimming increases, water accumulates around the head, causing a pressure drop between the two ends of the swimmer’s body. This differential creates a force that increases in proportion to the efforts to increase the speed of swimming, which further complicates the movement forward.
Wave resistance is created when, at speeds, the swimmer creates an increase in pressure around the body, causing waves. These waves additionally try to slow down the speed of the swimmer, and, as with other forms of resistance, this resistance increases depending on the speed of the swimmer.
Dragging to increase swimming speed
The study of resistance mechanics has led to some fascinating and effective methods of counteracting these effects and, consequently, an increase in the swimmer’s swimming speed.
It's in the hips
In 1984, Bill Boomer video and intensively studied each turn of swimming of each swimmer in the Olympic trials in the United States. Boomer, a swimming coach at the University of Rochester, wondered why many championship swimmers do not seem to work very intensively (through the number of strokes) to win their races. What Boomer discovered turned the sport into swimming - the fastest swimmers, he found, made several punches.
How is this possible? Boomer discovered that the length and effectiveness of each stroke determine the speed of the swimmer, and such factors are largely influenced by the amount and power of rotation of the hip joint. A powerful turn of the thigh radiates this force throughout the body.
Rotation of the hip joint was not a new concept. Most firstborn swimmers have been turning their hips to Olympic gold for many years, albeit unconsciously. But only recently scientists have confirmed the use of conscious rotation of the hip joint to increase swimming speed. It is shown that the rotation of the thigh, the study showed that a rare profile is created in the water, which significantly reduces the resistance.
Experts recommend the following for those who want to develop the correct rotation of the hip joint during swimming: you must consciously turn the navel to the same side of the pool as the punch. For example, when the right hand enters the water, the right thigh should point to the bottom of the pool. The body should roll back and forth in the water at the perfect rhythm before the beats. To maximize the benefits of hip reduction, experts believe that the arm should be fully extended at the beginning of each stroke.
Correct body positioning
Another key factor in minimizing resistance is proper body positioning. To reduce resistance, experts recommend that the body remains parallel to the water. The body should be expanded and as much as possible. The head may be pointing down or on both sides (as needed), but should never look forward. Looking ahead leads to the fact that the legs are pointing down, which leads to a loss of alignment and, as a consequence, an increase in resistance. The head should be directed towards the intended destination.
Take water
Too many swimmers, experts say, rarely on their hands to stroke the water. The correct way to reduce resistance and increase swimming speed is to reach out and literally catch the water. This will transfer muscle energy to water much more efficiently than using hands. Experts also recommend that the swimmer use his arms and forearms, as if he were climbing over a virtual wall, where the arms function as imaginary paddles and thus displace more water.
Proper clothes
Swimmers have long experimented with various swimwear, believing that the aerodynamic advantages will be realized with an increase in swimming speed. To this end, they historically donned swimming caps and tight bathing suits. Now engineers are involved in the design of costumes using specific materials, which, as research has shown, contain properties that are inherently effective in reducing friction resistance and, thus, increase the speed of swimming.
These are just some of the recent techniques that have been developed in response to scientific research on the effects of dragging floating jumps. It is likely that future studies of the physics of navigation will lead to great success, benefiting future generations.
