Different Strokes

Originally posted by LindsayNB I think breaststroke requires more energy because of the higher drag due to the less streamlined positions in breaststroke and depending on style the amount of energy used in vertical movements. Although there would be some energy expended on accelerating the swimmer's mass the dominant underlying cause is the drag causing the deceleration. Since drag increases in proportion to the cube of speed you will burn a lot more energy swimming a given distance faster than slower. Of course the "best" way to burn a lot of calories is to be very inefficient. I don't have Maglischo's book in front of me - but what I remember reading is that the energy cost of breastroke is high because of the constant need to accelerate right after a deceleration. The higher drag of breastroke is surely a factor in the deceleration. Maglischo charts the velocity variation for all the strokes and the charts for *** and fly vary the most. So I agree with you that drag is a major factor. The drag causes the swimmer to slow down, which requires power (and energy) to accelerate (until the next deceleration).

Originally posted by LindsayNB I think breaststroke requires more energy because of the higher drag due to the less streamlined positions in breaststroke and depending on style the amount of energy used in vertical movements. Although there would be some energy expended on accelerating the swimmer's mass the dominant underlying cause is the drag causing the deceleration. Since drag increases in proportion to the cube of speed you will burn a lot more energy swimming a given distance faster than slower. Of course the "best" way to burn a lot of calories is to be very inefficient. I don't have Maglischo's book in front of me - but what I remember reading is that the energy cost of breastroke is high because of the constant need to accelerate right after a deceleration. The higher drag of breastroke is surely a factor in the deceleration. Maglischo charts the velocity variation for all the strokes and the charts for *** and fly vary the most. So I agree with you that drag is a major factor. The drag causes the swimmer to slow down, which requires power (and energy) to accelerate (until the next deceleration).