I can float in any position in any water - salt or none. Can anyone else do this and do we know why?

Question

I have always been able to do this - whatever I weigh.

Thanks for the answers so far...I just need to add that I can float in ANY position, hands above head legs and arms outstretched or folded. I also have asthma and an extremely bad lung function as a result of the asthma, so it can't be about lung function or position. Everyone I have ever met who tries to float in any but the 'on your back' way sinks like a stone. So it has to be about more than relaxing into it doesn't it?

Answer 1

The ability to float is dependent upon the amount of water displaced combined with your body's weight. This question easily could be listed in physics. In fact, I recommend you do it for even more interesting answers.

Relaxing or not will not change your body's volume or density...it will not MAKE you sink.

Some people float because they are less dense than the amount of water they displace. If I hold my breath, I can float in pretty much any position. If I let the air out, I sink.
My brother, who was about my height but much denser (much more muscle than I had when we were kids) could take a full breath, hold it, and he still sank. It was not because he was not "relaxed"....he was like a fish...state ranked swimmer, etc. It was because his body, even with two lungs full of air, was denser in its volume than the water he displaced.

Some float with no breath, some float with full lungs, some still sink with full lungs. Our bodies have different densities, so some float and some sink. None of the 3 occurances is 'unusual'.

Also, people will be more bouyant in salt water than fresh, but more bouyant doesn't necessarily mean they'll float, it just means they are more bouyant in salt water than in fresh water.

Answer 2

Most people can naturally float this is due to the weight of our body compared to the weight of the water we displace.
Ever noticed when you lie on your back floating and breath normally you sink a little when you breath out and rise a little when you breath in.

It's basically how a submarine works. If you could get your body to physically weigh exactly the same amount as the water you displace then it would stay were ever you placed it in the water 1 foot under or 100 feet under. Breath in you would slowly rise to the surface. Breath out you would slowly sink. It's callad Balast

Answer 3

The answer isnt about bone density or natural build.
The floatation of a person in water is dependant on their body fat content.
Men usually sink in water because their body fat is built around their abdomen and is not even enough to level out with the water.
Women usually float in water because their body fat is spread even around the bones and muscles and women usually have a higher percentage of body fat due to natural effects (ie. Birth)
Since you are a woman (I assume you are according to your name) you are not alone and this is not some weird thing that is only happening to you =) I hope I have helped and answered your curiosity

Answer 4

you have a body density including the density of your bones lighter in respect to other human beings and your breath control must be better too, the good news is that if you are able to float like this you have excellent lungs and the bad that you are most likely to suffer from osteoporosis (bone problem) or anemia(blood related problems) at a later age.start consuming more calcium and iron rich foods forever to remain fit

Answer 5

not me, i cant float in the water even in the common floating positions if u consider floatijg to be two feet under and staying there yes but i cant float near the top of the water

Answer 6

I can too! I expect anyone can if they can learn to relax enough. When you are relaxed you are letting the water take your weight, and we have enough 'air' - (hollow organs, tubes etc) inside us for this to happen. If you are tense, then you resist the water and the body is working against the water instead of with it.

Many (I would say most, really) people are just not as able to let-go as much as you and I.

Answer 7

You probabaly have a high fat percentage in your body. I can float as long as I don't have both legs out of the water, and I have an average body fat percantage, so yours is probably higher.

Answer 8

You last lived about 2000 years ago, in those days you prefered to walk on top of the water.

Answer 9

i can't. someone tried to show me how to just lie back and float, and i did just what he said, just as he showed me, and sank like a rock. not fair. he even crossed his arms behind his head, and his ankles as if he were lying in bed, and floated as pretty as you please. he was muscular, so it can't be about subcutaneous fat. i don't get it, but i would love to be able to float. maybe it's about confidence, and not stiffening up, which is what i did.

Answer 10

The human body is naturally buoyant - under no circumstances raise your hands and your head won't go under.