Sinking and Swimming

[iBlue]

If I "fight" it I will sort of sink. If I relax I float fairly easily. This is without regard to breathing as well as the fact that I'm not fat or particularly muscular. I love water though and I'm a pretty strong swimmer.

 

[xsedrinam]

That's 'cause salt changes the density of the water. Wait, right? Right?

Correcto. And I bet everybody in here could float in the Dead Sea. It's about 9 times more "salty" dense than the average sea water.

 

[KC9AIC]

That's 'cause salt changes the density of the water. Wait, right? Right?

Yes, because salt is dissolved into the water, increasing mass, without producing any change in volume. The Dead Sea has an incredible amount of salt in it, making the density high enough that anyone can float. However, you will not want to try this if you have any cuts or scrapes, because you get salt in your wounds immediately, which it hurts a lot. I know from painful experience.

edit: xsedrinam said the same. I should type faster and proofread/edit less. Or not.

 

[cycocelica]

I remember back in Cub Scouts, there was a swimming badge you had to get to continue on. One of the tasks was to float, and I couldn't do it. I tried over and over and everyone else could do it but me. I was really pissed off. Now I can float all I want.

 

[iSaint]

I only recently realized that I couldn't float in a swim test. The instructor told me to arch my back more, and it was no problem then.

I'm skinny, and I'm a good swimmer.

 

[floriflee]

I can generally float if I spread eagle on my back or stomach. If I'm vertical then it takes a fair amount of kicking and flailing my arms back and forth to stay above the wather.

 

[vniow]

I can't swim. I can hardly float but I'm mostly afraid to go in water that's over my head. In my old apartment we had a pool and my ex tried to teach me but I didn't get very far. Didn't help that the pool was always freezing.

 

[yellow]

Fat people float.

In that case I bet you couldn't push me under water.

 

[realityisterror]

I'm skinny, and I find it difficult to float, but I don't think it really has so much to do with weight. (At least not in my case)

I've always found it very difficult to swim. I've never been comfortable under water and I usually have to physically hold my nose. I took public and private swim lessons as a kid. I can swim today, but I prefer not to go into water that I can't stand in.

Interestingly, when I was about 2 or 3 years old, I fell into a pool and was saved by my dad. I wonder if perhaps this has had a subliminal impact on me though my childhood.

On a side note, why doesn't this poll add up to 100%?

edit: ohh.. I guess it's because they're check boxes and you can choose more than one :/

 

[iGav]

I float. I'll bet that iGav does too. But, I'll sink soon! I'm going to start exercising next Monday!

'god himself could not sink this...'

yep that just about sums it up. heh

 

[Black&Tan]

I can float, no problem. My son needs flotation devices to float, however. Must be the extra beer weight. But beer floats.....

 

[mad jew]

In that case I bet you couldn't push me under water.

Yeah, I'll have to use the trusty ol' garrotte wire instead.

 

[MongoTheGeek]

I float vertically. Straight up and down. It takes effort to float on my back.