On one of the international competitions, spectators held their breath as they watched a narrow, long boat racing across the water, leaving its competitors far behind. The crowd erupted in cheers for the winners—Soviet athletes—who were bombarded with questions about their “secret” to success.
The athletes shared insights about their training regimen, their paddling tactics, and casually mentioned their relationship with water, which remains soft until… you hit it! Understanding this characteristic of water also contributed to their success. The rowers plunged their oars into the water with a powerful thrust, generating significant propulsion and increasing the boat’s speed.
The elasticity of water at high speeds is also utilized in technology. Water is used to erode coal seams underground. It can even break apart the toughest rock formations: neither granite nor basalt can withstand a jet of water.
Don’t believe it? But you shouldn’t test the power of a water jet on yourself. When water flows at a speed of about 100 meters per second, it becomes as resilient as good steel. Such a jet cannot be cut even by the sharpest saber—it will bounce back!
