Slashdot Mirror
The Physics of the World's Fastest Man
cylonlover writes "The Honourable Usain Bolt (Order of Jamaica; Commander of the Order of Distinction) is often held out as the world's fastest man. The reigning Olympic champion in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints as well as a member of the Olympic champion 4x100 meter relay team, Bolt is the first man to win six Olympic gold medals in sprinting, and is a five-time world champion. Long and lanky at 6 ft 5 in (2 m) tall, he towers above the (mostly) much shorter sprinters. How has he managed to come out on top for the past five years? A team of physicists from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) has analyzed Bolt's past performances in the 100-meter sprint to understand what makes a record-breaker."
More likely because of the spikes on track shoes that give runners a lot more traction, which is especially useful when accelerating at the start.
And in high school while running track, I found out the hard way that spikes are also great at increasing your deceleration.
They can take my LifeAlert pendant when they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
IAAF Competition Rules, Rule 143
Shoes
2. Athletes may compete barefoot or with footwear on one or both feet.
The purpose of shoes for competition is to give protection and
stability to the feet and a firm grip on the ground. Such shoes,
however, must not be constructed so as to give an athlete any unfair
additional assistance, including by the incorporation of any
technology which will give the wearer any unfair advantage. A shoe
strap over the instep is permitted. All types of competition shoes must
be approved by IAAF.
Right. And a speed skater is more efficient than someone who is sliding on bare feet. The bow makes the archer much more skilled then just trying to throw the arrow with their bare hands. And don't even get me started about the new Trampoline sport...I think they should have to do all those moves with just jumping with their legs.
If you aren't cheating, you aren't trying
That's a non sequitur. "Trying" is about enhancing your performance through practice, training, technology, drugs, etc. "Cheating" is about being a fraud, lying, and claiming accomplishments that you haven't performed.
"Trying" is what advances the human race. "Cheating" is what holds us back. If you are going to break the rules, then break them, but be honest about it.
Worse than that. It will practically be a requirement to overdose and kill yourself to be competitive.
feet fingers
We call those toes. Well, my family does, at least.
I have a problem with the vagueness of the term "world's fastest man". If the criteria is for a person to reach the maximum speed without the aid of external forces like engine forces or gravity, then I think that Sam Whittingham is the world's fastest man. He rode a recumbant bike 133kph (83mph) over level ground without motor pacing. His bicycle was enclosed by an aerodynamic shell designed by a European sculptor (I can't find his name but he is not an engineer). The record has also been contested by more prestigious university engineering teams but Sam's record still stands. His training runs sometimes took place on Vancouver Island freeways, and it was not uncommon for him to pass cars on the freeway.
This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when first he appears as a protector - Plato (423 to 327 BC)