The episode that will air next Wednesday, May 6th is called "Swimming in Syrup." I guess they got Cal Bear and Olympian Nathan Adrian to help out with the episode. Not much info available, but presumably they will test out how greatly increasing the viscosity of water affects swimming speed. I remember someone did a test like this a few years ago. If I recall correctly it was at the U of Minnesota. In that test they only made the water something like twice as thick and their results were that it did not affect swimming speed. Obviously there's more drag, but you also generate more propulsion because you have a thicker substance to apply force against.
edit: yeah, here's a story about the Minnesota experiment www.it.umn.edu/.../goingforthegoo.html
This should be a cool episode. I enjoyed reading the Minnesota experiment. I have an intuitive feel for the viscosity not affecting speed since your pull and kick have a greater effect too, but it seems that the viscosity would impact speed on entry and off the walls. Ahh to have money and time to research stuff that has no practical application! But isn't that some of the funnest stuff to research?
This should be a cool episode. I enjoyed reading the Minnesota experiment. I have an intuitive feel for the viscosity not affecting speed since your pull and kick have a greater effect too, but it seems that the viscosity would impact speed on entry and off the walls. Ahh to have money and time to research stuff that has no practical application! But isn't that some of the funnest stuff to research?
