Question

The 200 m free-style women's swimming gold medal at Seoul Olympics in 1988 was won by Heike Friendrich of East Germany when she set a new Olympic record of 1 minute and 57⋅56 seconds. Assume that she covered most of the distance with a uniform speed and had to exert 460 W to maintain her speed. Calculate the average force of resistance offered by the water.

Answer 1

The average force is 270,388 N

Explanation:

Step 1:

Given values  

Time for the record = 1 min and  57.56 sec  = ( 60 + 57.56 ) = 117.56 sec.

Power used to keep the P = 460 W  

Travelled distance s = 200 m.  

Step 2:

We are aware of the formula,

Power  =  work/time

Work = power × time  

W = P × t

W = 460 × 117.56

W = 54077.6

Step 3:

We know the formula,

Work = force x displacement  

W = F × D

Force = 54077.6/200

F = 270.388 N.

The average force is therefore 270,388 N

Answer 2

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270,388 N