All kids I know sink in the pool unless they have a floatation device. So I"m curious as to why young children don't float. I would have thought it would be natural. So I guess, the question could also be what mechanism causes you to float?
2007-09-14 00:40:36 · 10 answers · asked by Timmimom 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
They can't float because mummy and daddy didn't give them permission!
2007-09-14 00:52:55 · answer #1 · answered by kendavi 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To teach people not to panic in water it has been suggested that most people can be suspended in water by the tension on a piece of yarn (very little force). The density of the human body nearly equals the density of water. Men with heavier bone and more muscle than fat tend to float motionless only if they hold successive deep breaths (expand lungs). Women with more natural fat than muscle tend to float without holding the breath. of course it is easier to float in (denser) salt water, especially in the Great Salt Lake, UT where nobody can sink. Children usually do not have a natural fear of water and must be under constant surveillance near water. Floating children on their backs rather than face down may cause fear because of a sensed loss of control. Chubby kids should float but panic to keep too much of the head out of water can cause anyone to drown. Gentle treading can more than equal the tension of a piece of yarn. Two year old Mary Crosby (daughter of singer Bing Crosby) passed the Red Cross swimming test needed for survival.
2007-09-14 01:17:38 · answer #2 · answered by Kes 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Of course young kids float!
The problem is that they don't know how to position themselves and stay still in order to float. Even when we float we still occasionally get water in our eyes and mouth - young kids can't handle that so they squirm. That's why they don't float.
2007-09-14 00:46:14 · answer #3 · answered by bonshui 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Density. Kids who sink are denser than water.
I was a sinker when I was a kid, and it didn't matter what position I took or whether I had air in my lungs.
Muscle and bone are denser than water. A kid has less fat than an adult (unless the kid is pudgy -- getting a lot of that in the US these days).
2007-09-14 07:57:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
They can!! They just need to be taught that simply lying still will allow the body to remain on top of the water.
The air in your lungs keeps you on top.
2007-09-14 00:45:11 · answer #5 · answered by Sal*UK 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They panic. They do not know how to control and hold their breath in properly get the air inside their body they need.
2007-09-14 00:47:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
To disprove the "intelligent design" theories.
2007-09-14 00:47:41 · answer #7 · answered by shara. 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
they say everybody can float so... why kids cant?
2007-09-14 00:48:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
lungs are too small
2007-09-14 00:46:12 · answer #9 · answered by Boring 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
puberty.
2007-09-14 00:53:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋