Re: [Paddlewise] A new way to teach the forward stroke?

From: Niels Blaauw <niels_at_nibla.nl>
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2011 19:41:49 +0200
Gerald Foodman wrote:
> It is called the power phase because that is when the power that moves 
> the boat forward is applied. 
Please note that I don't claim that lifting your arms is the _only_ 
source of power. As I explain in the video, there are many ways to add 
extra power - but using gravity is a good start.
> While changing sides, no power at all is applied to moving the boat 
> forward.
> I assume that most of the energy a paddler expends is to move the boat forward.  While changing sides, no paddler energy is moving the boat forward.
>    
Do you remember old-fashioned mechanical clocks? Those things used to 
have a weight to store energy. That weight would slowly move down, 
giving energy to move the pendulum and rotate the arms of the clock. My 
explanation builds on that same principle: That energy can be stored as 
potential energy, reclaimed when moved by gravity, and converted into 
force and movement. The main difference would be, that a clock needs its 
weight lifted once a day, while a paddler needs it lifted once a second.

Up till now, your arguments are easily refuted with a little knowledge 
of classical mechanics. I still value your comments, though. I will 
probably get the same comments from my own students and peers, and you 
give me a good chance to prepare my answers.

Niels
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Received on Sun Apr 24 2011 - 10:41:57 PDT

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