Does Diving into Water Involve Negative Work?

AI Thread Summary
Diving into water involves negative work due to the resistance exerted by the water against the diver's downward motion. As the diver descends, the water pushes upward, opposing the direction of movement, similar to friction. This resistance results in a scenario where, despite the diver's forward momentum, the work done by the water is classified as negative. The analogy of punching through paper illustrates this concept, where the paper resists the force but is ultimately penetrated. Thus, the water's interaction during a dive can be understood as negative work.
harp AP 2010
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Homework Statement


If you dive into the water does it do work on you? Positive or negative?


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The Attempt at a Solution


I think I know this one, it is negative work because he is pushed up from resistance, but continues to go down.
 
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I would say that the water does negative work on you because its working like friction. Even though you are still moving forward the water is pushing on you opposite the direction that you are moving.
 
Its like punching a piece of paper. The paper works on you but you still break through. Relative to the paper, since the fist broke through, work is negative.
 

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