Cyclists get some energy advantage by drafting following clo

Cyclists get some energy advantage by drafting (following closely behind another cyclist). Does the same apply to swimmers who follow closely behind another? By analyzing the forces applicable to cyclists and swimmers determine whether it is advantageous or not for a swimmer to follow closely behind another. Explain your answer fully.

Solution

>> Let\'s write the forces acting on a swimmer :

>> First, you have the force of gravity pushing downwards. Then, you have the buoyant force pushing up on the swimmer. Third, you have the drag pushing on the swimmer.

>> Drag is basically what happens whenever you have a solid moving through a liquid medium

>> Moving from behind the swimmer is the motive force of the swimmer (comign from the paddle motion of their hands).

>> So, in this case also, swimmers moving behind another one will gets a motive force byreduction in drag force