is the experiment a hoax? why I can't find any pictures or videos of someone swiming in syrup? If you've seen it please post a link.
2006-12-30 01:55:52 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
http://www.nature.com/news/2004/040920/pf/040920-2_pf.html
2006-12-30 02:14:47 · update #1
The article mentions no more than a 4% difference in swimmers times (water vs syrup) and states neither one has an edge of the other.
I would tend to agree for two reasons
1.) As mentioned by many the syrup is viscous and would tend to slow a moving object
But in addition:
2.) The same viscosity and thickness of syrup would offer the swimmer a better medium to pull themselves along with.
I suggest that one effect of the viscosity is counteracted by the other... Further I would bet that you would spend a greater effort
swimming in syrup to overcome effect of viscosity.
So this experiment has a flaw in it as it is comparing just speed of swimming in water vs syrup without taking into account the difference in work needed to swim in either medium.
There would also be a buoyancy difference which could also aid a syrup swimmer maintain a more streamlined position in the liquid.
2006-12-30 03:45:06 · answer #1 · answered by MarkG 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
people swim faster in water because the viscosity of the syrup is high causing a lot of resistance. Water is less viscous allow people to move easily through it.
2006-12-30 02:06:35 · answer #2 · answered by Jon 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Nice One!! Didn't know it was such an old problem(Newton and Huygens)
But it clearly metion that SHAPE'S IMPORTANT and because increasing thurst nullifies increased viscosity and the end result remains unchanged.
My prev answer:
Naturally Water.....because viscosity of water is less than syrup
2006-12-30 02:02:19 · answer #3 · answered by Som™ 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
We swim faster in water. Syrup offers much higher resistance due to greater viscosity. [the drag is much more]
2006-12-30 02:02:12 · answer #4 · answered by openpsychy 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Water ofcourse , this is because syrup has higher resistance ( syrup is of higher viscousity )
2006-12-30 02:17:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Its like saying can you swim faster in water or ice.
Obviously we can swin faster in water than in syrup.
2006-12-30 01:58:43 · answer #6 · answered by Nitin T F1 fan 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
water, syrup is very thick and sticky.
plus, who wud rather swim in syrup than water.
2006-12-30 02:23:07 · answer #7 · answered by athlete1314 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
syrup, NEVER heard of SWIMMING in syrup BEFORE! thats just weird I HAVE TO SAY WATER!
2006-12-30 02:04:48 · answer #8 · answered by *KiAnA* =] 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
syrup is way thicker therefore it is harder to swim through it
2006-12-30 02:03:12 · answer #9 · answered by kait 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Water!!!!!
2006-12-30 02:04:26 · answer #10 · answered by I wanna c your grillz ♥ 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋