This article explores the interrelationship between physical laws and swimming as a competitive sport. The author, a master of open water swimming and a professional athlete, emphasizes the importance of understanding physical principles to enhance athletic performance. Given that water covers the majority of the Earth's surface, it necessitates an inevitable interaction with water, highlighting the need for water safety and proficiency in swimming. The analysis focuses on the key aspects of applying physical laws in swimming, particularly with a focus on hydrodynamics and water resistance. The paper also underscores that achieving exceptional results in swimming requires consideration of not just physical aspects but also factors such as physical conditioning, psychological resilience, and technical prowess.
Introduction: Swimming as an educational subject delves into the physical laws governing the interaction between the human body and water, the medium in which motor actions are performed. It aims at mastering skills essential for optimal movement in water without any auxiliary devices. «Swimming is a crucial, lifesaving skill for humans, considering that the aquatic environment covers approximately 71 % of the Earth's surface» (Vikulov A. D., «Swimming», 2004). This fact makes interaction with water an inevitable part of human life, whether in daily living or specific situations requiring swimming proficiency for personal safety and survival.
As a master of open water swimming and a professional athlete, I have decided to delve into understanding how physics and its laws can aid swimmers in increasing their speed in water. It is important to understand that mere knowledge of physics is insufficient for achieving high results in swimming. Numerous aspects need to be considered, from an athlete's physical condition, employed swimming techniques, training regimen, to psychological mindset.
Water sports are areas where physical laws and phenomena significantly impact athletes' performances, with swimming being particularly susceptible to such influences. I have dedicated many years to training both in water and on land, which not only allows me to improve my athletic performance but also to continually work on personal development. In this paper, I will analyze the key aspects of physical laws that play a pivotal role in enhancing athletic performance in swimming. A clear understanding of the physical principles underlying competitive swimming allows an athlete to optimize their movements to achieve higher speeds. Knowledge of how forces interact with the body in an aquatic environment, including water resistance and principles of hydrodynamics, enables a swimmer to adapt and refine their swimming technique. This leads to more efficient energy use and reduced resistance, which, in turn, results in increased movement speed through water.
So, Archimedes' Law and Buoyancy. According to Archimedes' law, a body immersed in a fluid experiences an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body. This force, also known as buoyancy, helps swimmers stay on the water's surface. The importance of this principle for swimming cannot be overstated, as it provides the basis for buoyancy, allowing athletes to effectively use their strength to move forward rather than struggling against gravity. Professor Ernest W. Maglischo in his work «Swimming Even Faster» (2003) emphasizes that «optimizing buoyancy and minimizing water resistance require swimmers to pay special attention to their body position in the water». That is, by adopting a more horizontal position in the water, swimmers can reduce water resistance and swim faster. To achieve this, we swimmers must constantly work on improving our technique, paying special attention to horizontal alignment (extension) of the body in the water.
In conclusion, Archimedes' law explains why swimmers do not sink to the bottom but remain on the surface: water pushes them up with a force that helps them swim. But this law not only helps to understand why we do not drown. It also gives swimmers useful tips on how to improve their performances. Knowing about the lift force, athletes can change their technique to better use this force to their advantage.
Swimmers' movement in water is excellently explained by the three famous laws of Newton, which describe the basic principles of motion dynamics.
Newton's first law, or the law of inertia, tells us that an object will remain at rest or move at a constant velocity in a straight line unless acted upon by external forces. For example, in the context of swimming, this means that a swimmer will continue to move forward, even after they stop paddling with their arms or kicking with their legs, until the water resistance completely stops them.
This law has direct application in swimming and can be illustrated by several vivid examples.
Example 1: When a swimmer performs an arm stroke or a leg kick, they create a force that propels them forward through the water. According to Newton's first law, once the stroke is completed and the swimmer stops actively moving, they will still continue to glide forward due to inertia. This motion will continue until the water resistance slows down and eventually stops the swimmer. Effective and experienced swimmers know how to maximize this gliding motion by minimizing water resistance with their body.
Example 2: The start jump illustrates Newton's first law — it's the moment of start when a swimmer jumps into the water from a platform. At the moment of pushing off the starting block, the swimmer applies force to the block, and in reaction, receives forward acceleration. After entering the water and losing contact with the block, the swimmer continues to move forward by inertia until the water resistance slows their speed.
Example 3: In long-distance swimming, athletes face the need to use their energy efficiently. Knowing about the law of inertia, they can optimize their strokes in such a way as to maximize the duration of forward motion after each stroke, thereby conserving energy and increasing the overall efficiency of their swimming.
Newton's second law, or the law of acceleration, states that the force acting on an object causes it to accelerate in the direction of that force. The force is proportional to the object's mass and acceleration. In swimming, the harder a swimmer pushes with their legs or strokes with their arms (applies force), the faster they will start to move (accelerate). Here are a few simple examples for better understanding.
Example 1: When a swimmer is in the water and begins to push off the wall of the pool with their legs, they apply a force to the water. According to Newton's second law, this force leads to the swimmer's acceleration in the opposite direction. The harder the swimmer pushes, the faster they push off and start to move. It's like pushing a skateboard: the stronger the push, the faster the skateboard goes.
Example 2: Imagine a swimmer making a stroke with their arms in the water. In doing so, they apply a force to the water, which, according to Newton's second law, creates forward acceleration for the swimmer. In other words, it's like pushing off the wall with your hands to push yourself back — the harder you push, the faster you push off.
Example 3: If a swimmer increases the force of their strokes without changing their frequency, they start to move faster due to greater acceleration. This is similar to pedaling a bicycle: the harder you press on the pedals (without increasing the rotation speed), the faster the bicycle accelerates.
Example 4: It's also important to understand that in water, there is resistance that acts against the swimmer's motion and reduces their acceleration. This can be compared to riding a bicycle against the wind: the stronger the wind (resistance), the harder it is to accelerate, even if you apply the same force to the pedals.
Newton's third law, or the law of action and reaction, states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This law is most important for swimming, as it is the basis of arm strokes and leg kicks.
Example 1: When a swimmer performs a backstroke through the water, the water «reacts» with a force directed forward and outward. This means the water, pushed away by the swimmer's hands, creates an equal and opposite force, propelling the swimmer forward. It's similar to how you push off a wall with your feet and move in the opposite direction.
Example 2: When a swimmer executes a kick in the water, the water also reacts by generating a forward-directed force. This force from the water, pushed away by the swimmer's legs, according to Newton's third law, causes an equal and opposite reaction, propelling the swimmer forward.
Example 3: Another example is the moment of start when a swimmer jumps into the water from the platform. In doing so, the swimmer applies force to the platform, and the platform, in accordance with Newton's third law, exerts an equal and opposite reaction, propelling the swimmer forward and down into the water.
Example 4: When swimmers perform a turn, they push off the pool wall. They apply force to the wall in the backward direction, and the wall «responds» to this action by propelling the swimmer forward with equal force. This allows the swimmer to sharply change direction and start a new lap with increased speed.
Example 5: The underwater dolphin kick is often used after starts and turns. The swimmer makes wave-like motions with their entire body, starting from the head down to the feet. As the swimmer's legs move downwards, they push the water down and back, and the water, in turn, propels the swimmer up and forward, helping them move more efficiently under water.
Example 6: The breaststroke pull. In this style, swimmers perform circular movements with their arms. As they move their arms inward and back, the swimmer pushes the water in these directions, and the water «responds» to this action by propelling the swimmer forward. The same happens with the leg movement: as the legs are brought together and kick water back, the water helps propel the swimmer forward.
Example 7: When swimmers execute a double arm pull in butterfly, they first extend their arms into the water, then actively push the water back. This pushing back not only moves the water but also creates a reactive force that moves the swimmer forward.
Conclusion: Understanding and applying Newton's three laws play a critical role in enhancing swimmers' understanding and refinement of techniques aimed at achieving maximum speed. According to James Edward Counsilman, a renowned swimming coach (1920–2004), the correct understanding and application of these principles «allow swimmers to achieve high results, improving their speed and efficiency» (Counsilman, 1971).
The interrelation between fundamental physical laws and swimming techniques not only demonstrates the importance of theoretical knowledge in sports achievements but also opens avenues for further refinement of training methods and competitive practices. Moreover, a profound understanding of Newton's laws enables swimmers to develop more efficient strategies for improving their performance, which directly contributes to enhancing speed characteristics and achieving new sporting heights.
Hydrodynamics is the science that studies how objects move in water. In swimming, this knowledge helps understand why some swimming methods are faster than others and how swimmers can overcome water resistance to swim faster. «Improving swimming efficiency through the optimization of body position requires not only physical training but also a deep understanding of hydrodynamic principles» (Maglischo, 2003).
Water resistance is the primary challenge swimmers face in every race. It can be divided into three types: form drag, skin friction, and wave drag.
Form drag arises from the swimmer's body shape and its orientation in water. Imagine swimming in water: if your body and arms are extended and streamlined, water «flows» around you more easily than if you were swimming with your arms and legs spread out. The more streamlined the body shape, the less form drag, and the faster you can swim.
Skin friction, or viscous drag, is related to how water «clings» to your body. It's similar to friction: when you try to slide your hand across the surface of the water, you feel resistance. Thus, water «slows» you down due to its viscosity. For example, as swimmers, we use streamlined swimwear made with modern technology and strive to make the skin of our arms and legs as smooth as possible to reduce water resistance and increase our swimming speed.
Wave drag is created when a swimmer moves in water and forms waves. The harder you hit the water, the more waves and the greater the resistance. In this case, more efficient and experienced swimmers try to swim in a way that creates as few waves as possible on the water. Thus, technical improvement is aimed at reducing these types of resistance through enhancing hydrodynamic efficiency. This is achieved by smooth, coordinated movements and optimizing body position in water, allowing the athlete to achieve greater speed with less effort. Studies conducted by Barbosa and his colleagues (Barbosa, T.M., et al. (2010)) confirm that “improving hydrodynamic position by smoothing movements and reducing body fluctuations can significantly reduce wave resistance, thereby increasing swimming speed.”
Conclusion: The relationship between physics and swimming demonstrates the critical importance of a scientific approach in competitive swimming. Understanding the laws of physics allows athletes and their coaches not only to develop effective training programs and strategies for competitions but also to apply this knowledge to optimize swimming techniques, reduce water resistance, increase speed, and enhance the overall efficiency of movements.
The application of scientific principles in swimming covers a broad range of aspects, from the aerodynamics and hydrodynamics of the swimmer's body to detailed analysis and adjustment of each movement to minimize water resistance, and ending with the development of specialized training exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles most actively involved in swimming.
Furthermore, the scientific approach in swimming includes the use of modern technologies and equipment for collecting and analyzing data about athletes' performance. Video analysis of swimming techniques, heart rate monitoring, and the use of motion sensors allow coaches to receive real-time feedback and make scientifically informed adjustments in the training process.
Ultimately, thanks to the application of physics as a science in swimming, swimmers can not only achieve previously unattainable heights but also continuously improve, overcoming their own physical and psychological limits. This underscores the importance of the scientific approach not only as a means to improve sports achievements but also as a tool for the development of human potential as a whole.
References:
- Vikulov, A.D. «Swimming», 2004
- Ernest W. Maglischo «Swimming Fastest», 2003
- Barbosa, T.M., et al. (2010). The influence of stroke mechanics on velocity fluctuation during race pace front crawl swimming. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine.
- «The Complete Book of Swimming», by James E. Counsilman, Atheneum, 1977
- «The Science of Swimming», by James E. Counsilman, Prentice Hall, June 1968
