Kinesiology 2241A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 29: Ob River, Barracuda, Breaststroke
9 Apr 2018
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We can actually use drag force to our advantage. We can use drag to propel us forward. But if the hand is part of our body system and it is moving backwards relative to our body, then the drag forces point forward. So by orienting the hand at right angles to the water flow and pulling it. So by orienting the hand at right angles to the water flow and pulling it backward, all the drag force becomes a propulsive force on the body. But we can produce even more propulsive force by orienting the hand slightly differently and producing lift forces as well as drag force. The trick is, the hand must be slightly curved (like an airfoil) to generate lift. You give your hand an angle of attack (angle between hand and oncoming flow). You create the oncoming flow when you swim. When treading water you are creating lift with your hands (lift force goes straight up)
