Why is it harder to stay afloat in a lake/ocean than in a swimming pool?

Question

I swim really good in the pool and I don't have trouble staying up. When I go to the lake and swim, live in Chicago, it's harder to stay up or accelerate. I was thinking it was because the amounts are different but I'm not sure..

click the star, you know it's interesting...

Answer 1

oceans and lakes are always moving with the earth, whereas a pool is sedentary.  always still.  i'm guessing.  it seems like a good answer.  lol

Answer 2

I agree with the 2nd answer

Answer 3

its actually because there is salt in the ocean....

thats all...

Answer 4

Currents and waves may make it harder for you to stay afloat. It's actually easier to stay afloat in the ocean than in a pool or a lake, assuming no currents or waves, because saltwater provides a greater buoyant force.

Answer 5

because in the lake there is more density because of the fish and animal life which then causes the body of water to get heavier. also swimming pools have chemicals in it to help you swim in it. also the crueent has somthing to do with it. it slows you down unlike the pool since the wind has almost no effect on the water

Answer 6

Well, if you're living near Chicago, my guess would be that you've not gone swimming in the ocean in a while.  The salt in the ocean water will help you stay afloat a little more than if you were swimming in a lake.  Floating in the Dead Sea is the easiest because the water is SO salty there.  The level of salinity does have a slight impact on your bouyancy.  It's not huge, but it is measurable.

Huh, Katherine?  How come swimming pools, "aren't moving with earth?"  How do you figure that?  It may be time to put down the pipe for a month of two!  *laughter*

Answer 7

d'know

Answer 8

There is no difference in the buoyancy of your swimming pool and the bouancy of Lake Michigan.  But that does not mean that swimming in them is the same.

The most likley reason it seems harder to float in the lake may be the roughness of the water.  The pool water is pretty flat.  The lake water always has ripples and little waves.  If your head and mouth are just above the water in a flat pool, they always are.  But if your head and mouth are just above wavy, choppy or rippled water you struggle a bit more to keep more of yourself above the tops of the chop so you don't take in water.  So you are working harder, not to float, but to float higher.

Answer 9

maybe because of the amount of water