Mrs. Rohrig is purchasing a new paddle for her kayak. She has experienced some wrist and shoulder pain and wants to make sure she is purchasing a paddle with maximum efficiency. The paddling store has two paddles that fit her height in stock. Which paddle should she purchase to produce the maximum efficiency? The Cypress or the Tybee?

Cypress paddle: carbon fiber, mass= 22.5 oz, least flex through shaft, smooth back of paddle, Foam core blades, can be damaged.
Tybee paddle: fiberglass and nylon, mass= 35.5 oz, some flex through shaft, ridged back of paddle, nylon and fiberglass blades, almost indestructible.

Word Bank: Input energy, input work, input power, output energy, output work, output power, shaft material, mass, flexibility, friction, blade material, blade shape.

(4 points)

1 answer

To determine which paddle will produce maximum efficiency for Mrs. Rohrig, we need to consider a few key factors such as the shaft material, mass, flexibility, blade material, and blade shape of each paddle.

1. Shaft material: The Cypress paddle has a carbon fiber shaft, which is lighter and stronger than the fiberglass and nylon shaft of the Tybee paddle. This means that less input energy and work will be required to paddle with the Cypress paddle.

2. Mass: The Cypress paddle has a mass of 22.5 oz, while the Tybee paddle has a mass of 35.5 oz. A lighter paddle will require less input energy and power to use, making the Cypress paddle more efficient in this regard.

3. Flexibility: The Cypress paddle has the least flex through the shaft, which will allow for more efficient transfer of power from Mrs. Rohrig's body to the water. The Tybee paddle has some flex, which may result in some energy being lost due to the paddle bending during use.

4. Blade material: The Cypress paddle has foam core blades, while the Tybee paddle has nylon and fiberglass blades. Foam core blades are lighter and may provide a smoother stroke through the water, resulting in less energy wasted due to friction.

5. Blade shape: The Cypress paddle has a smooth back, while the Tybee paddle has a ridged back. A smooth back may result in less drag in the water, leading to more efficient paddling.

Based on these factors, it can be concluded that Mrs. Rohrig should purchase the Cypress paddle for maximum efficiency. The lighter weight, stiffer shaft, foam core blades, and smooth back all contribute to a paddle that will require less input energy and power to use effectively.