Science Project

How about a streamlining experiment. Have your subject push off the wall with hands at thier side and measure distance. Next have subject push off with hands like superman, measure distance. Lastly have subject in full streamline. The differences are significant. Time flag to flag using an open turn vs. filp turn. Measure verticle jump and relate to distance covered off wall in push off. Time wetsuit vs. non-wetsuit.

When I was coaching several years back I had a girl that did one based the times of a 25 free under different circumstances, ie...with a cap/ without a cap, before practice/after practice, drag suits/no drag suit, regular suit/tech suit, start from a block/start from in water... Not sure of all the tech things she did, just remember swimming some 25s for her. Good luck with the project.

For very young: Can dad swim faster than a polar bear? Sounds like someone doesn't like dad very much! :drown: Did you ever sleep in a bear pit With apple cores and mice along Did you ever lay on ice and grit Or search for a place where the wind was gone ... There ain't no bears in there (cache cache) Not a single bear in there (cache cache)

Measuring the heart rate and comparing times with and without a kick are great ideas. If you do them (or any others) be sure to randomize over a period of time. Like if you compared heart rate on free vs. ***: Day 1 you'd swim free then ***. Day 2 you'd swim *** then free. Etc. If you always swam the same stroke in the first trial, then the heart rate for the second trial could be affected by the effort exerted in the first.

thanks for the input ...I like the heart rate one. We have to have something visual and presentable at the fair. Powerpoints and such may work but I don't know if this will fit the bill. I don't see why we can't make a presentation with video clips. Plus she can do all the filming and commentary (she is good at commentary). So it would be her work just my exertions.

My daughter did an experiment in 5th grade using a stretch cord testing the 4 strokes. She had fun doing it and won Honorable Mention.

...and so on, until DaddyStud pukes... you forget, I'm British...it could take a while...

Hmmm. Can Dad swim faster than a polar bear? Interesting question. While the final answer may be pending, I am certain that any Dad can swim faster if the polar bear is chasing Dad rather than Dad swimming behind the polar bear. I, personally do not want my daughter to put me to the test!

If the stud kid needs it here is Polar Bear info pbsg.npolar.no/pb_faq.htm

Measuring the heart rate and comparing times with and without a kick are great ideas. If you do them (or any others) be sure to randomize over a period of time. Like if you compared heart rate on free vs. ***: Day 1 you'd swim free then ***. Day 2 you'd swim *** then free. Etc. If you always swam the same stroke in the first trial, then the heart rate for the second trial could be affected by the effort exerted in the first. I should have included that it helps to know the resting heart rate, allow for recovery and switch up the strokes if possible. You could also count the heart rate as it builds up, and with no recovery... 1.resting HR 2.after 50 free 3.after 50 back 4.after 50 *** 5.after 50 fly As you can see we had put a lot of thought into this project...