Question

Which option explains Cynthia’s exhaustion in the following scenario?

Cynthia is training for her first swimming race, and she is noticing the more she gains speed, the more tired she becomes.
A. The faster Cynthia swims, the more energy she must exert to overcome drag.
B. Cynthia uses all her energy to get to her fastest speed.
C. Cynthia needs to work on her stamina to make it through the race.
D. Cynthia’s arms and legs become heavier the longer the race goes on.

Answer 1

Cynthia's exhaustion is due to the increased drag force as she swims faster, which requires her to expend more energy to maintain her speed and overcome resistance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reason for Cynthia's exhaustion can be explained by the physics of drag forces in fluids. As she swims faster, there is a proportional increase in drag force, which means that she has to exert more energy to continue accelerating and maintaining her speed. Option A states this concept: The faster Cynthia swims, the more energy she must exert to overcome drag. This is the most suitable explanation because drag indeed increases with speed and requires more energy to overcome, leading to fatigue. This principle also applies in other sports where body suits are used to minimize drag and improve performance. Cynthia's body will produce heat due to the inefficiency of energy conversion during intense periods of exertion, which must then be dissipated.