Could water chemistry be altered to make swimmers faster?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential for altering water chemistry to enhance swimming performance. Participants explore the mechanical properties of water, such as viscosity, density, and surface tension, and how these might be modified to create an "ideal water" for swimmers. The conversation includes theoretical considerations, implications for competition fairness, and comparisons to other sports.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the mechanical properties of water, including viscosity and surface tension, could be altered with additives to improve swimming speed.
  • Another participant questions the purpose of modifying water, arguing that fairness in competition would necessitate all swimmers using the same modified water.
  • A participant points out that "regular water" is not pure, as pools contain various chemicals, and compares this to the variability in track surfaces affecting running performance.
  • It is noted that increasing the density of water, for example by adding salt, could allow swimmers to ride higher in the water, potentially reducing drag, though the effects on viscosity and propulsive force are uncertain.
  • Some participants mention that rules in swimming limit underwater strokes, as swimming underwater is generally faster, which raises questions about the implications of water chemistry on swimming techniques.
  • One participant expresses confidence that increasing water density would ultimately slow swimmers down, contrasting with earlier claims about reduced drag.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether altering water chemistry could enhance swimming performance, with some supporting the idea and others questioning its feasibility and fairness. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the effects of increased water density on swimmer speed.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that the effects of water chemistry on swimming performance are complex and may depend on various factors, including the specific substances used and their interactions with swimmer dynamics.

aerohead_18
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At swim practice last week I started thinking about how the composition of the water was affecting how fast my teammates and I were able to swim. The mechanical properties of the water--viscosity, density, surface tension, etc.-- are what determine how much force swimmers are able to generate by pushing on it and how much drag they experience moving through it. And different substances, like surfactants in the case of surface tension, are able to alter those properties. So if it's possible to change water's mechanical properties by adding different substances to it, might it also be possible to develop an "ideal water" that would make swimmers faster?

My initial guess is probably not, since any reduction in drag would result in a corresponding reduction in the force a swimmer would be able to generate by moving the fluid, and vise versa. (Am I correct in assuming that?) But then again, maybe there is some "perfect" set of properties that would strike an ideal balance between reducing drag and maximizing power?
 
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What would be the point? For fair competitions, all swimmers would have to be using the same modified water so why not just have them all use regular water?
 
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Just a hypothetical question about the "how's," not so much the "why's."

Also, define "regular water." All pools have various chemicals for bacteria control, so it's not pure water by any means. And in other sports, namely track, this variable isn't even considered. Some tracks are much faster than others, and a few that are so fast that athletes, especially sprinters, are virtually guaranteed a PR. To make it truly fair there would have to be national rules governing the chemistry of the water in swimming or the track surface in running, but these don't exist to my knowledge.
 
aerohead_18 said:
Just a hypothetical question about the "how's," not so much the "why's."
Fair enough.
 
If you increase the density of the water (by for example adding a lot of salt) that the swimmer would displace less water, ride higher in the water, and presumably, as a result have less drag.
I'm not sure if it would affect viscosity which could affect the drag, but also the swimmer's propulsive force.

aerohead_18 said:
Some tracks are much faster than others, and a few that are so fast that athletes, especially sprinters, are virtually guaranteed a PR. To make it truly fair there would have to be national rules governing the chemistry of the water in swimming or the track surface in running, but these don't exist to my knowledge.
In gymnastics, floor exercises are often (maybe always?) done on a surface of mats, but with a springy underneath, which gives them more bounce for flips etc.
 
BillTre said:
the swimmer would displace less water, ride higher in the water, and presumably, as a result have less drag.

In some styles rules say that you can't swim under water for longer than few strokes - from what I remember that's because swimming under water is generally faster.

aerohead_18 said:
how the composition of the water was affecting how fast my teammates and I were able to swim

Reducing drag was researched by military, take for example a look here: http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA397790
 
Borek said:
In some styles rules say that you can't swim under water for longer than few strokes - from what I remember that's because swimming under water is generally faster.

Oh yeah.
They mentioned this a lot in the recent Olympics broadcasts.
I also recall resistance is lower for submarines (completely underwater). Something about the surface of the water affecting drag.
So this might negate my comment.
 
BillTre said:
If you increase the density of the water (by for example adding a lot of salt) that the swimmer would displace less water, ride higher in the water, and presumably, as a result have less drag.

I'm pretty confident that increasing density would make swimmers slower.
IMG_4904.JPG
 

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