When you do a (Links to an external site.)dive head first your hands part the water and create an entry point for the rest of your body to slide into the water. When you do a belly flop the entire flat surface of your body has to break the water to enter. The larger the surface area of the body hitting the water, the larger the resistance (Links to an external site.)force of the water pushing back will be.
Belly flops are painful because the body has kinetic energy. When the body belly flops on the surface of the water the kinetic energy is transferred to the water which moves out of the way and creates a big splash. Some of the energy is also converted to heat which creates the stinging pain that is
Belly flops are painful because the body has kinetic energy. When the body belly flops on the surface of the water the kinetic energy is transferred to the water which moves out of the way and creates a big splash. Some of the energy is also converted to heat which creates the stinging pain that is