Above image: http://www.themaneater.com/media/2009/1012/photos/swimming014.jpg
After mastering the techniques that the previous slides have taught, it is now time to add another branch of physics into swimming: projectiles! And when exactly do we see a projectile being performed? Through diving! Professional swimmers would practice, for several hours, diving into the pool to achieve the optimal angle of take-off that will allow them to attain the greatest flight, horizontal distance (also known as the x-component), which will allow to to have traveled a great distance with just using the dolphin kick! Swimmers try to avoid having a high take-off angle, for the entry will be a deep dive instead of a shallow one. Instead, swimmers will have to exert their energy to get back to the surface of the water and will in turn require more time. Additionally, this reduces the flight distance. However, in the other extreme, if the take-off angle is too low, then this will cause the body to be flat into the water and therefore taking away the ability of utilizing the dolphin kick, which is a lot more efficient than flutter. By having a low angle, this further increases the wave drag component as the body is forced to do a shallow glide depth. ("What Is the Optimal Angle of Release to Gain Most Distance?")
Angle of release, comparative to entry distance and dive depth.
https://biomechanicalprinciples.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/figure-5.jpg
https://biomechanicalprinciples.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/figure-5.jpg
With scientific researched, it has been concluded that the optimum diving angle should be between -5 to 10 degrees, which clearly shows that having a lower angle is more beneficial for the swimmer. This also contradicts the accepted fact that 45 degrees results in the greatest x-distance. However, as seen in the diagram above, having a lower angle is more advantageous than a higher one. ("What Is the Optimal Angle of Release to Gain Most Distance?")
The above diagram was acquired by diving from a block, which indicates that the release is at a higher point than the entry. Due to the height at which the projectile (or in this case, the swimmer) was released, this implies that the lesser angle will result in a further flight distance. Since gravity is the only force acting upon projectile, by minimizing vertical velocity (which therefore increases horizontal velocity) will result in a farther distance. ("What Is the Optimal Angle of Release to Gain Most Distance?")
Body position yet plays another crucial role in take-off. Ensuring that you have a proper, streamlined position will allow you to experience minimized drag, which indicates that a greater forward momentum will be achieved. ("What Is the Optimal Angle of Release to Gain Most Distance?")
The above diagram was acquired by diving from a block, which indicates that the release is at a higher point than the entry. Due to the height at which the projectile (or in this case, the swimmer) was released, this implies that the lesser angle will result in a further flight distance. Since gravity is the only force acting upon projectile, by minimizing vertical velocity (which therefore increases horizontal velocity) will result in a farther distance. ("What Is the Optimal Angle of Release to Gain Most Distance?")
Body position yet plays another crucial role in take-off. Ensuring that you have a proper, streamlined position will allow you to experience minimized drag, which indicates that a greater forward momentum will be achieved. ("What Is the Optimal Angle of Release to Gain Most Distance?")