To be an Olympic champion: Where fashion meets physics
Athletes who strive for Olympic glory spend years honing every aspect of their performance. From their training regime to their diet, every detail matters. This meticulous approach extends to the sleek, lightweight uniforms they wear during competition. At this elite level, even the smallest advantage can make a significant impact on the outcome.
But what’s the deal with the high-fashion hair and flashy accessories at the Paris Olympics? Take the men’s 100-meter sprint, for example. In a photo finish, Noah Lyles of Team USA can be seen sporting a diamond-studded chain around his neck and a hefty Omega Speedmaster watch.
Lyles emerged victorious, finishing 0.005 seconds ahead of his closest rival. But could he have posted an even faster time without the additional weight? And what about sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson in the women’s 100 meters? Could she have claimed the gold instead of settling for silver without her signature long, flowing locks?
While I personally admire Richardson’s flair, the question remains: do these fashion choices impact finishing times? This conundrum begs the expertise of the legendary coach Isaac Newton.
Unveiling a Basic Running Model
Unraveling the biomechanics and physics of running can be quite intricate. However, for our purposes, a simplified model will suffice as we aim to estimate potential differences.
When a sprinter bursts off the starting blocks, they progressively accelerate. Nonetheless, even over a relatively short distance like 100 meters, the acceleration phase eventually gives way to a constant speed or even a slight deceleration.
COURTESY OF RHETT ALLAIN
Let’s delve into the acceleration phase of this sprint. When an object accelerates, there must be a net force acting on that object in the direction of acceleration. This aligns with Newton’s second law: Fnet = mass x acceleration. So, what forces come into play when a human is in full sprint mode? Let’s break it down: