Drag Reduction, Speedo Swimsuits and kneeboards

[SFKneelo]

Interesting prospect! Good read, Headwax!

- A slide suit would definitely improve my ability to slide into oncoming lips when getting pitched
- Maybe the sharkskin will fool the locals... I'd be more of a bro than a snack
- I'm not sure if I'd go for the Cap'n America, Spiderman, Silver Surfer or aquaman look


"Balance of forces in swimming: At constant swimming speed the body drag (Fd) and propulsion (Fp) will on average be equal in magnitude (but opposite in direction)."

I think I'd be better off losing a few pounds and building cardio... decrease Fd and improve Fp.



or, through Status Quo, I shall Grow...

[Alain Lessard]

Done the speedo thing all I had was speedos or a full suit water was to warm, summer at Santa Ana River Jetties. The bright side , I had my own area to play in! [/b]

[surfhorn]

I wore my old Speedo when KBing one summer many years ago. My friends paddeled away quite quickly and I definitely got a peak all to myself.

[Bryan Jackson]

I always wear a speedo underneath my wetsuit or trunks. That way I can peel off my wetsuit with out doing the towel dance and it prevents chafing.

I've have bodysurfed in nothing but speedos (and swimfins, of course). In fact, that is the absolute best way to go, even better streamlining than nude .

Regarding the quote:

"Balance of forces in swimming: At constant swimming speed the body drag (Fd) and propulsion (Fp) will on average be equal in magnitude (but opposite in direction)."

That is patently impossible!

Why? Becasue if those two forces were equal in magnitude, there would be no movement, either forwards or backwards, whatsoever.

So propulsion must be greater than drag in the case of forward motion, and less than drag in the case of backwards motion .

[MTBarrels]

"Balance of forces in swimming: At constant swimming speed the body drag (Fd) and propulsion (Fp) will on average be equal in magnitude (but opposite in direction)."

That is patently impossible!

Why? Becasue if those two forces were equal in magnitude, there would be no movement, either forwards or backwards, whatsoever.

So propulsion must be greater than drag in the case of forward motion, and less than drag in the case of backwards motion .

Sorry, but the statement is correct--unless, of course, the swimmer, on the average, is being accelerated or decelerated. No net external force means no acceleration.

Newton's First Law: "A body in motion remains in motion, and a body at rest remains at rest, unless acted upon by an external force.

Newton's Second Law: Force is equal the temporal rate of change of momentum (sometimes approximated by: Force = mass times acceleration).

[red]

I installed vortex generators at all water breakaway points on my board (because the articles taught me that you only need them where there is water separation - otherwise they just cause drag).

I also learnt that they have to generate a layer 4mm thick to be effective, so I used the "no wax" technology to get a really good rough surface with 3mm high jags.

I coated my rails and trailing edges of my fins. First time I sat up on the board I severed an artery in my thigh. Sharks followed the smell trail and located me within 3 minutes. But I bet I would've gone faster if I'd got a wave!

[Ler]

All this talk about drag, reminds of that summer in New Oleans.

[Bryan Jackson]

Ooops! Sorry for the mistake . You're right MTBarrels. Had to go back and review my basic physics .