Swimming and Work: The Positive and Negative Effects on the Body

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of work done while swimming, exploring whether it is positive or negative. Participants are examining the physical principles involved in swimming and the effects it has on the body.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning the nature of work in swimming, considering both positive and negative aspects. Some are reflecting on personal experiences of fatigue after swimming, while others are drawing analogies to different scenarios, such as the effect of a boat propelling through water.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with various perspectives being shared. Some participants are providing insights into the mechanics of swimming and the forces at play, while others are raising questions about the implications of these concepts.

Contextual Notes

There are repeated inquiries about the nature of work in swimming, indicating a potential lack of clarity or consensus on the definitions being used. Additionally, the discussion touches on the broader implications of physical exertion and its effects on the body.

praveen933
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which kind of work is done while swimming? positive or negative?
explain.
 
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What kind of work do you think? How do you feel after a swim? Tired? Worn out?
 
What is our opinion about people posting their homework here? Positive or negative? Explain.
 
i think its both. + and -.
 
If you're swimming in standing water (i.e. a pool), then your arms and legs 'push' the water behind you backward, displacing the water backward (and outward as well), so you do positive work on the water. According to Newton's Third Law, the water pushes back on your arms and legs with a force equal in magnitude but in a direction opposite the force your arms and legs apply to the water, thereby displacing you forward, so the water does positive work on you as well.
 
praveen933 said:
which kind of work is done while swimming? positive or negative?
explain.

Replace yourself with a boat and a propellor. Would the motion of the boat through the water allow you to connect a generator to the propellor and charge a battery for ever - or would the boat slow down?
 
SteamKing said:
What kind of work do you think? How do you feel after a swim? Tired? Worn out?
Take this example you stand with a sumo wrestler/fat man on you How do you feel ? Tired? Worn out?
 

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