In the 2016 Olympics in Rio, after the 50 m freestyle competition, a problem with the pool was found. In lane 1 there was a gent
le 1.2 cm/s current flowing in the direction that the swimmers were going, while in lane 8 there was a current of the same speed but directed opposite to the swimmers' direction. Suppose a swimmer could swim the 50.0 m in 25.0 s in the absence of any current. Part A: How would the time it took the swimmer to swim 50.0 m change in lane 1?
Part B: How would the time it took the swimmer to swim 50.0 m change in lane 8?
speed of swimming in still water is given by the expression
distance / time
= 50 / 25
= 2 m /s
In lane 1 , 1.2 cm/s current is flowing in the direction that the swimmers are going so swimmers will cover distance at the rate of 2 + 1.2 = 3.2 m /s.
time to cover distance of 50 m in lane 1
= distance / speed
= 50 / 3.2 = 15.625 s
In lane 8 , 1.2 cm/s current is flowing against the direction that the swimmers are going so swimmers will cover distance at the rate of 2 - 1.2 = .8 m /s.
