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 gentle 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?

Explanation:

A )

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.

time to cover distance of 50 m in lane 1

= distance / speed

= 50 / .8 = 62.5 s