WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
- What drag force is and how it slows swimmers down
- How body position affects resistance in water
- Why swimmers shave their bodies and wear special suits
THE SCIENCE EXPLAINED
Drag is a force that opposes motion through a fluid (like water or air). The faster you move, the more drag you experience. In water, drag is about 800 times greater than in air! The drag force depends on: your speed, your surface area facing the water, and how streamlined your shape is.
SPORT IN ACTION
Olympic swimmers wear special suits that reduce drag by up to 10%. They also streamline their bodies - notice how they keep their head down and body horizontal. Even the way they turn at the wall is designed to maintain speed while minimizing resistance.
TRY IT YOURSELF
In a pool or bath, try moving your hand through water with fingers spread, then with fingers together. Feel the difference in resistance? That's drag! Swimmers minimize this by keeping a tight, streamlined shape.
QUICK FACT
Michael Phelps' wetsuit in 2008 was so effective at reducing drag that it was later banned from competition!
KEY IDEA TO REMEMBER
Drag force increases with speed and surface area. Streamlined shapes = less drag = faster swimming!