In swimming, scientific concepts do apply especially physics cocepts and applications. The making of the speedo swimwear has been specifically made by the use of physics aspects to avoid related disasters in water, especially while swimming. This review discusses the various methods in which the making of swim wear applies the laws of physics.
Physics of Swimming
Swimming is a sport as well as exercise done in a water body which involves the movement of every body part and dragging the movement against the water body. Individuals practicing swimming wear swimming suits, which are specially designed form of clothes used while in water based activity (Haphaestus, B., 126). Swim suits help in reducing drag in water which in turn improves the propel lance in water.
The knowledge of physics is applied in making swim suits, to have a highly measurable impact on swimming. Several modifications have been done to swimsuits to minimize the three drags while swimming, that is, pressure, friction and wave drug. All this have been improved with the modern technology and hence minimized drag force. How a swimmer overcomes drag forces while swimming applies the basic knowledge of fluids and pressure in physics.
Materials that are highly drag resistant such as polyurethane are used to make swimming suits, which aid in the reduction of friction drag while in water. Frictional drag occurs in the moving parts of the body such as limbs and shoulders. Suits, which are lowly drag-resistant to water will make the measurable impact of swimming minimized, which lowers the speed of swimming.
The suits are also designed to be water resistant making them lighter in water and fit the swimmers perfectly. The suits are made such that they squeeze the swimmers and slim them down, which boost their buoyancy in water, but still will allow free movement of swimmers while in it (Lucer, B. And Bleulgohlke, C., 46). In addition, technology is used to make swimming suits with fabrics that are chlorine resistant, which do not react with chlorine. Suits made with absorbent materials such as cotton lowers the speed of movement of swimmers, and also increases muscle fatigue caused by the bulky swimsuit while swimming. Buggy suits act like excess body hair on the body, and increased frictional drag in water making it difficult for the swimmers. Well fitting suits enable the swimmers to keep body form while in water and easily maintain their swimming flow in any direction.
Some swimming suits are made in a way that they resemble shark's skin, in that they have curves resembling shark. This enables accommodation of water and air along the different position of curves that aid the movement by reducing friction. The ridges on the swimming suit minimize the flow of water along the swimmer's body and reduce the water turbulence. While swimming, the pressure difference between the two separate water layers is reduced by the minimized normally large surface area would reduce resistance, but swimsuits help to reduce resistance even with large surface area. However, larger body will move slower in water due to its large surface area. In this case, swimsuits will help to reduce the surface area hence increasing the speed turbulence, which reduces pressure drug. Pressure drag as a result of the body moving, between the upper part and lower part of the body while swimming reduces the pace of a swimmer. The turbulence along the body can only be minimized by the ridges made along the suit. Similarly, such suits are made to cover all parts of the body with the exception of feet and arms to minimize water drag. Such full body swimsuits aids in reduction of muscle fatigue, as the moving parts of the body will only require minimum energy to propel the swimmer.
Swim suits are made of very smooth surfaces as rough surface lower swimmer's movement in water as it increases the opposing force between swimmer and water (Gibo, T., 2). In addition, some suits are made slightly thicker to increase the buoyancy while in water. Smooth surfaces have less frictional drag to water as compared to rough surfaces. This minimizes the frictional drag while swimming, and the effort required when swimming is minimized, as the ability to float is higher and will require less energy.
During competitions, some swimsuits have been banned due to unfair advantage. Different suits have an advantage over others, making swimming measurement impact grater to others. Thickness of suits has been specified to be 1mm thick. This is to reduce the advantage of buoyancy to other swimmers who instead would have used less force to float, such as the LZR Razor swimmers is said to have added buoyancy. Swimming suits are set not to extend the ankles or shoulders. Full body suits minimize water drag, which is an added advantage to those who have. Standardized swimming suits hence are recommended without extended shoulders and ankles.
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