Can anyone explain to me how much resistance water creates while swimming? Is there a equivalent in pounds? or is there another way it is measured? If found a site that explains fluid dynamics, but I'm looking for a simpler explanation.
Yes, it can be measured in pounds. The drag created by the swimmer on the surface is a little tricky because both form and wave drag must be considered. A streamlined swimmer underwater probably produces somewhere around 25 pounds of drag. You can use the equation drag = 1/2 * density * velocity^2 * drag coefficient * frontal area. I assumed a drag coefficient of 0.5, a velocity of 5 ft/sec (this is 50 yards in 30 seconds) and an area of 2 square feet. There will be more drag at the surface because of the addition of wave drag.
Good explanation Kirk - note that the amount of drag increases with the square of the velocity so at a velocity of 5 ft/sec you have 4x the drag of a velocity of 2.5 ft/sec. And therefore 5ft/sec requires about 4x as much effort to overcome drag at 2.5ft/sec. Moral: swim slower, you'll greatly reduce drag, and won't have to worry as much about it. :D I've been working at this.
Yes, it can be measured in pounds. The drag created by the swimmer on the surface is a little tricky because both form and wave drag must be considered. A streamlined swimmer underwater probably produces somewhere around 25 pounds of drag. You can use the equation drag = 1/2 * density * velocity^2 * drag coefficient * frontal area. I assumed a drag coefficient of 0.5, a velocity of 5 ft/sec (this is 50 yards in 30 seconds) and an area of 2 square feet. There will be more drag at the surface because of the addition of wave drag.
Good explanation Kirk - note that the amount of drag increases with the square of the velocity so at a velocity of 5 ft/sec you have 4x the drag of a velocity of 2.5 ft/sec. And therefore 5ft/sec requires about 4x as much effort to overcome drag at 2.5ft/sec. Moral: swim slower, you'll greatly reduce drag, and won't have to worry as much about it. :D I've been working at this.
