Mechanisms In Swimming

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The range of mechanisms used in swimming and flying has long been of interest and an inspiration for scientists. Millions of species for millions of years have lived on our earth through adaption and evolution- resulting in them having many structures and functions. Understanding the biomechanics of animals carrying out these motions so efficiently in fluids- gaseous or liquids- has allowed and continues to allow us to develop as humans for example in sporting or in technology advancements and to do so in a natural, environmentally friendly manner (N. Kato et al, 2004). For similar sized animals it is generalised that flight is faster than: walking is faster than: swimming. For flying in air and swimming in water the variation in forces and…show more content…
The resultant of forces which do not cancel out is known as the unbalanced force (John Taylor, 2008). An unbalanced force causes an increase in speed or acceleration, the object or animal accelerates because the thrust is greater than the resistive force. This theory could apply to e.g. an engine as this causes thrust, propelling the object in the directional movement. There are three Laws relevant to both flying in air and swimming in water. Newton’s first law of motion is where an object will remain at rest or at constant velocity unless acted on by an unbalanced force. And so in essence it is a no force law as in space travel there is no force required to keep an object moving. The straight and steady line of direction and speed of travel will be consistent where no forces come in to play, forces that act on the object could be resistive forces. Generally, a continuous pressure or force must be applied to keep an object moving along as an object in motion experiences resistive forces that increase as speed of motion increases. These forces of friction will always acts against the direction of the travel of the object. And so overall this first law gives us the understanding that an object will remain at constant velocity where the applied force and friction are balanced. (John Taylor,…show more content…
One newton is defined as the resultant force, which causes a mass of 1kg to accelerate at 1ms-2. Acceleration=Unbalanced force/mass (or F= ma) therefore newton’s second law tells us that force causes acceleration. Drag force acts in opposition to the direction of movement (Mark W. Denny,1993). Drag force depends on density (ρ) of the medium in which the object is moving, the cross-sectional area in the direction of movement, the drag coefficient (depends on shape and surface properties) and the velocity. It is in Newton’s second law that drag force decelerates and performs negative work (University of Glasgow, 2015). Newton’s third law tells us that force can exist in pairs that are equal in size while opposite in direction. For example a rocket pushes fuel away when accelerating and similarly the fuel pushes the rocket away, both of these forces occur at the same time. (John Taylor,
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