Adrian Bejan Swimming Quotations

The fact that the same proportionalities rule optimal running, flying and swimming is not a coincidence rather it is an illustration of the fact that a universal principle is involved. Running requires the least food when during each cycle a certain amount of work is destroyed by vertical impact and a certain amount to horizontal friction. The same balancing act is responsible for optimal flight and swimming.

Running, swimming and flying occur in vastly different physical environments and, likewise, involve quite different body mechanics. Nonetheless, there are strong convergences in certain functional characteristics of runners, swimmers and fliers.

It was swimming that stumped us. Everyone knows that, in water, fish are weightless.