5 ms·

"cold water is highly viscous and impedes swimming" This is very size and speed dependent, but increased viscosity delays separation and can actually reduce dr

"cold water is highly viscous and impedes swimming" This is very size and speed dependent, but increased viscosity delays separation and can actually reduce drag [1], [2]. In any case, the viscosity difference is not huge and water temperature is normally not precisely controlled for swimming events. "Most people [...] suffer from vasodilation in extreme cold." Only when the core is doing well [3], the opposite (vasoconstriction) occurs otherwise. [1] http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/abstract/204/1/81 http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/abstract/204/1/81 [2] http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120798746/abstract http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120798746/abstrac... [3] http://www.springerlink.com/content/l776704k04017q43/ http://www.springerlink.com/content/l776704k04017q43/

cromulent 16y ago
The Mythbusters checked the increased viscosity myth (opposite presumption, same speed is possible) and found it plausible. http://mythbustersresults.com/swimming-in-syrup http://mythbustersresults.com/swimming-in-syrup
- alex_stoddard 16y ago
  It has been a long running debate which way viscosity would affect swimming. Higher velocity increases resistance to forward motion but also allows for more propulsive force from the swimmer - which will dominate? It turns a research group at UMN actually was crazy enough to do the test - it looks like the effects balance for a human swimmer. http://it.umn.edu/news/inventing/2004_Winter/goingforthegoo.html http://it.umn.edu/news/inventing/2004_Winter/goingforthegoo.... http://www.cems.umn.edu/research/cussler/pool/ http://www.cems.umn.edu/research/cussler/pool/
  - SkyMarshal 16y ago
    As as a swimmer, I know I'd much rather swim in cold water than warm, at least as far as pools go. It's easier to maintain momentum and glide in cold water, whereas swimming in warm water feels like you're swimming in molasses. Also, as my body heats up, cold water feels more cooling, obviously.

cromulent 16y ago

The Mythbusters checked the increased viscosity myth (opposite presumption, same speed is possible) and found it plausible. http://mythbustersresults.com/swimming-in-syrup http://mythbustersresults.com/swimming-in-syrup

alex_stoddard 16y ago
It has been a long running debate which way viscosity would affect swimming. Higher velocity increases resistance to forward motion but also allows for more propulsive force from the swimmer - which will dominate? It turns a research group at UMN actually was crazy enough to do the test - it looks like the effects balance for a human swimmer. http://it.umn.edu/news/inventing/2004_Winter/goingforthegoo.html http://it.umn.edu/news/inventing/2004_Winter/goingforthegoo.... http://www.cems.umn.edu/research/cussler/pool/ http://www.cems.umn.edu/research/cussler/pool/
- SkyMarshal 16y ago
  As as a swimmer, I know I'd much rather swim in cold water than warm, at least as far as pools go. It's easier to maintain momentum and glide in cold water, whereas swimming in warm water feels like you're swimming in molasses. Also, as my body heats up, cold water feels more cooling, obviously.