does anyone know why .....?

Question

does anyone know why we float in water when relaxed but when we panic we seem to sink ...

and also does anyone know why you shouldnt eat before going swimming

thanks alot

Answer 1

When you are relaxed in the water you're not using as much energy and it takes a long time to become tired where as while panicking the person isn't limiting their energy output and becomes tired much more easily (about 15 times a quickly if my memory is right). While calmly floating you can respond better to outside stimuli and have a better understanding of your surroundings as well.

As for the eating part your stomach really needs to remain calm while initially digesting foods so disrupting that balance can lead to pains and cramps in the stomach from the improper or mis- release of chemicals or protective linings in the stomach may be breached by fluids that are not supposed to cross those boundaries. It's pretty complex but that's the basics of the stomach cramps.

Answer 2

When you panic your body purges your lunges of oxygen. Which is why people get that shortness of breathe feeling when they panic. Well, while in water, the oxygen in your lungs helps you float. So when you have less oxygen in your lung, your body sinks. Whereas when you are relaxed you let your lungs fill fully with air, making your body more buoyant. To demonstrate this, float vertically in a pool. Take a deep breath in and see how you float. Then let the air out of your lungs and watch how you sink a little in the water.

Answer 3

When someone panics they are releasing air from lungs.
You, in priciple, are a submarine, blow the tanks and your gonna sink.
Conversely, and really your question is apples and oranges,
when relaxed you are in control of the air in your lungs.

Like do this in water: Hold your breath and go to the bottom and stop, go motionless; In this scenario, you are not relaxed, your body is under stress from oxygen deprivation, however as long as you remain motionless you will float to the top as long as you hold your breath, like a submarine.


Eating = cramps. But that is a bit overstated.

Answer 4

When you panic you start thrashing around and gulp water.
You sink because you come up out of the water and fall back in.
I guess a big meal could lead to cramps in some cases.

Answer 5

I don't know who made up the whole eating before swimming thin k but its not true! I'm a swimmer (7 years) and I eat all the time before practice and I don't get cramps. No one gets cramps! All that happens is that you might just feel a little sick!

Answer 6

FLOATING
People float because they have air in their lungs, so you will float as long as you are breathing in and out normally.

People start to sink when they breath out. Test it.... float on your back... you rise up in the water as you breath in and you start to sink as you breath out. Simple isn't it?

People do not breath when they panic. People drown when they panic and breathe out.

EATING BEFORE SWIMMING
Old wives tale.... based on conventional wisdom... indigestion can cause you to cramp up, gulp water, breath out, panic and drown.

Answer 7

when you float your claim and acept the water to hold you up. but when you panic you rush and get out of rhyme, your body shakes with nerves.

I beleive the reason for not swimming straight after was because food needs to still down.

Answer 8

-----Eating and then swimming too soon afterwards may cause serious stomach cramps, which can lead to drowning. Exhailing will cause us to go lower in the water. Coming to an upright position, in panic, will cause us to go lower in the water. ---Jim