Can sum1 help me wit this question?

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Homework Help Overview

The original poster presents a physics problem involving a swimmer attempting to swim upstream in a river with a constant flow, questioning whether work is done on the swimmer in two scenarios: when swimming upstream and when floating downstream.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the definition of work and its relation to displacement, questioning common misconceptions about physical labor and work done on an object. They discuss the implications of being stationary versus moving with the current.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes various interpretations of the concept of work, with some participants providing insights into the definitions and implications of work in physics. There is no explicit consensus, but productive lines of reasoning are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the distinction between work done on the swimmer and the swimmer's own exertion, emphasizing the importance of displacement in defining work. The original poster's urgency for assistance suggests a time constraint related to studying for a test.

b_ball_gurl87
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hey can sum1 help me with this question?

a swimmer is trying to swim upstream in a river with a constant flow of water, but remains stationary relative to shore.

a. is any work being done on the swimmer? explain.

b. if the swimmer stops swimming and floats with the water flow, is any work done on the swimmer? Explain.

please get back to me asap. I am studyn for my test

email be back at b_ball_gurl87@hotmail.com
 
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a very good way to test any work being done on the swimmer is simply asking him, " are you tried ?" if he did, he must have DONE some WORK...
 
Start with the definition of work.

(Constant force case)
The work done on an object as it travels from one point to another is the force times displacement.

Suppose you're standing on the shore. What is the displacement of the swimmer? So what is the work done on the swimmer?

vincentchan said:
a very good way to test any work being done on the swimmer is simply asking him, " are you tried ?" if he did, he must have DONE some WORK...

No. This is a common misconception about the concept of work. Do not relate work with physical labour.
Suppose you would hold a heavy book in one hand with outstreched arm. You'd get pretty tired after a while, but since the displacement of the book is zero, NO work is done on the book.
 
Galileo said:
No. This is a common misconception about the concept of work. Do not relate work with physical labour.
Suppose you would hold a heavy book in one hand with outstreched arm. You'd get pretty tired after a while, but since the displacement of the book is zero, NO work is done on the book.

Very good. Just like the situation when a person pushes against an immovable wall.

But can you figure out why a person gets tired if no "work" is actually being done ? (hint : consider micro-scale effects)
 
The original question also did NOT ask if the person had done work. It asked if work was done ON him.

As long as he is stationary, there is no work done on him. If he floats downstream, then work is done on him.
 
vincentchan said:
a very good way to test any work being done on the swimmer is simply asking him, " are you tried ?" if he did, he must have DONE some WORK...


lol :biggrin:
 

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