How do I float, and why do I sink? It's a question commonly asked by beginners learning how to swim.

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Hi, Mark here. Hope all is well with you.

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This week, we are talking about why we sink. Scroll down and discover the science behind floating and sinking, and how it may help you understand more and even help you stay afloat when you swim. Firstly, I have a lesson plan for teaching floating and gliding for swimming teachers.

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Teach Your Pupils How To Stay Afloat.

The 'floating and gliding' lesson plan below outlines some basic exercises that can be included as part of a complete swimming lesson. Use your professional judgement and adapt it to suit your swimmers. Enjoy!​

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Want more lesson plans like this one? Touch the image or go here for a whole load more swimming lesson plans like this one.

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Lesson plans that:

• are adaptable to your students
• save you planning time
• ensure progress

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Why Do We Sink? The Science Made Simple

First, let's clarify one thing: Floating whilst stationary in one place and staying afloat whilst swimming are two completely different concepts.

Your ability to float is all down to your relative density. What does that mean? Take this example: a log floats and a rock sinks. The log floats because its density is low relative to the density of the water. But the rock sinks because its density is high relative to the density of the water. For more on relative density, click here.​

How does this relate to the human body? Let's say that the log is fat and the rock is muscle. Okay, so there's more to the human body than fat and muscle. There are bones, organs, blood and stuff like that, and they all contribute to your overall density. To keep this simple, let's stick to fat and muscle.

People with a higher fat content will tend to float. Lean and muscular people will tend to sink naturally. If you naturally sink, it does not mean that you cannot swim!

Let's go back to our naturally sinking rock. Like you, it has a slightly streamlined shape, so if it's propelled across the water surface, it will remain at the surface for a short time before it sinks.

Create a streamlined shape as you propel yourself through the water; add some basic swimming technique, and you will remain at the water surface as you swim!

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​Click here to discover some easy exercises that will help keep you afloat as you swim.

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That's it for now.

Happy swimming!

Cheers

Mark

​Swim Teach​

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