Friday, January 8, 2010

Can water temperature affect how streamlined an object in water is?

Are objects more streamlined in hot water or cold water? I can't think which one and I can't think of a reason for either one too.


Also, which swimming costume material is known to be more streamlined: polyamide, polyester or nylon?Can water temperature affect how streamlined an object in water is?
The increase in water temperature increases the kinetic energy of the water molecules hence there is an increase in vibration among the molecules. The decreases the dipole-dipole interaction among the molecules. This decreases the viscosity of the water (which can be accounted to faster movement of the object). The lesser the viscosity the easier for an object to move in water.Can water temperature affect how streamlined an object in water is?
The surface tension of water does decrease significantly with temperature.





The molecules at the water surface do not have other like molecules on all sides of them and consequently they cohere more strongly to those directly associated with them on the surface. This forms a surface ';film'; which makes it more difficult to move an object through the surface than to move it when it is completely submersed.





That means that an object would find it easier to break the surface of warm water than cold water because the surface tension will be stronger in cold water.
I can't answer the material question. I'm no scientist, but as far as I'm aware, water turns into vapour as it gets hotter and to ice as it gets colder. With this in mind, I would assume, an object is less streamlined in colder water because water is closer to being a solid the colder it gets hence more resistance due to a kind of friction. I'll have a go at the materials one actually. All can be streamlined. It depends on how they make the material. Think of nylon shirts versus nylon american football.
Me for a start. I get goosebumps in cold water so I get even less hydrodynamic than usual.

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