2006-07-28 10:52:57 · 11 answers · asked by Joshua 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Believe it or not, this experiment has actually been done (almost). Ed Cussler, a well-known professor of chemical engineering at the Univ. of Minnesota, got permission to fill the university's swimming pool with a guar gum solution that, although it was not completely gelled like set jello, significantly increased the viscosity of the liquid in the pool. The question at hand was whether swimmers would be able to swim faster because the increased viscosity would increase the efficiency of their strokes/kicks, or whether they would swim slower becaused of the increased drag on them due to the increased viscosity.
It turned out that these effects seem to pretty much cancel out, and the swimmers swam about the same speed in water and in guar-gum solution.
Check out the first source below for details and pictures.
Also, check out another answer to your question thats posted on the AIP website at the second source below.
2006-07-28 12:29:34 · answer #1 · answered by hfshaw 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, It is the momentary inertia of treading water that keeps your head up. Jello or pudding would dampen that inertia to the point that treading would have no effect. Jello would probaly support you pudding would probably suffocate you.
2006-07-28 17:58:26 · answer #2 · answered by Sleeping Troll 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can "tread water" in pudding or jello as long as the jello isn't cold. If it were cold you would cut right through it as the molecules are sticking together.
2006-07-28 17:56:05 · answer #3 · answered by Dr. L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You wouldn't need to. Pudding and Jello are semi-solids (I believe the technical term is suspensions), and as such don't follow Archimedes principle which governs buoyancy.
Fluids that are denser provide more buoyancy, so as the material becomes thicker, you have to provide less and less force to keep yourself floating in the same volume of fluid. At some point (not very high, as salt water will allow you to float) it's no longer necessary, as you won't "sink" anymore.
2006-07-28 17:57:15 · answer #4 · answered by kain2396 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, if you were in pudding, you would be treading pudding, not water. Silly human, trix are for kids!
2006-07-28 17:54:30 · answer #5 · answered by Infidelus_Prime 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can if it's the pudding i just made. i followed the directions and it just won't harden.
2006-07-28 17:54:49 · answer #6 · answered by muralist 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont think so but i would have fun trying
2006-07-28 17:54:54 · answer #7 · answered by Neil G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hehehe
2006-07-28 17:54:49 · answer #8 · answered by lala<3 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't know. but they're fun to wrestle in
2006-07-28 17:56:48 · answer #9 · answered by crazy girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GIGGLE!!! It will Tickle!
2006-07-28 17:55:58 · answer #10 · answered by tankgirl_84 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋