PED 20: Aquatic and Swimming

BUOYANCY AND FLOATATION

Buoyancy is the force exerted by a liquid or fluid that opposes and object's weight.

Buoyancy is the upward force that acts on the swimmer while they are in the water. The
pressure from beneath the swimmer is much greater than the pressure above them –
allowing for the swimmer to float. At the surface of the pool, there is less resistance as
the fluid is more resistant than air. It is of greater advantage to be more buoyant and
stay closer to the surface. In order for an object to float, its buoyant force needs to be
greater or equal to the weight of the water.

To become more buoyant, swimmers use their upper body since it is the body’s center
of buoyancy due to the greater surface area. The upper body needs to be used
effectively and efficiently as the lower body would sink and not be streamlined (eddy
resistance) – the swimmer needs to be parallel to the surface. In order to do this, the
chest is pressed down and causes the hips to rise. Water is substantially denser than
air (773x) and this causes the swimmers to float. The higher the swimmer is in the
water, the less water they are swimming through and the fast they will be able to go.

BUBBLES MEAN LOST BUOYANCY

If there is white water, if the water is foaming or disturbed by rocks or falling a distance,
then you lose buoyancy. White water is water mixed with air, and air bubbles have less
density than water. So you lose your buoyancy in it, are affected by gravity much more
and may very well sink. If you’re not experienced that’s the kind of thing that can make
you panic, and panicking can get you into trouble.

If forced down by a waterfall it may be instinctive to try to swim against the current, back
up thorough the bubbles, but you have to exit that stream of air filled fluid sideways and
then swim to the surface.

WEIGHT OF WATER

In a waterfall you are placing yourself under a weight of water which can be on a scale
from lightly massaging to bone crushing.

The power of the water varies with the flow rate, and when flow rates increase it gets
heavier. Be aware of that: each time you get in you have to judge, how is it on this day,
at this minute? When a river is in high flow, it is increasingly likely that rocks and tree
debris could tip over a waterfall.

SIPHONS AND SIEVES

Plunge pools tend to be carved out beneath waterfalls, and can make good swimming
spots, ending in a rock lip.

At times of high flow, these pools can turn into torrents, and swimmers may find
themselves forced again by boulders or rocks at the pool exit, and held into it.

Water has a lot of power when it moves and one of the key hazards is a siphon. If
there’s a gap between some rocks and water is forced through a smaller hold, then it’s
the equivalent of a plug – a swimmer can get sucked in, plug the gap and then not move
out again because they are pinned by the weight of the water. This is called a siphon.
A fallen tree or roots overhanging a bank can create the same effect, but this is called a
sieve. In strong currents a swimmer can find they are pushed against roots or the bank,
and the water holds them against it, and they can’t get away: the weight of the water
holds them there.

FLASHY RIVERS HAVE FLUCTUATING HAZARDS

Flashy rivers are ones where conditions change quickly with rainfall. There are various
dangers associated with a flashy river. A stream that was friendly and benign can, after
a short period of heavy rainfall, rise by as much as 2-3ft and then have completely
different risks and hazards. For example, a waterfall that is popular becomes
dangerous, with swimmers more likely to be trapped against rocks or a fallen tree and
held there by the strength and weight of the water.

JUMPING

Fluctuating water levels mean that a popular jumping spot can become fatal if river
levels have dropped, and currents can move underwater rocks: every episode of
jumping needs it’s own risk assessment (going into the downstream section and
exploring depth and underwater hazards), the fact that it’s a popular jumping spot or
others have been seen jumping there before is no assurance of safety. The higher the
jump, the deeper the water necessary beneath it.
Gravity- a force that the object or body draws towards its center.

Mass- Measurement of the amount of matter in an object or substance.

Density- The amount of space an object or substance takes up or the volume in relation
to the amount of matter in that object or substance or the mass.

Buoyancy- the force that enables a swimmer to float in the water, even when not
moving.