Physics of sports course
- 1. Speed, acceleration and Usain Bolt DrVassilios Spathopoulos
- 2. Race of the Century: Usain Bolt vs Aircraft Usain Bolt Fastest man on Earth World record in 100 m, 9.58 s! Northrop T-38 Talon Jet trainer Supersonic! Image credits: "Usain Bolt 200 m final Daegu 2011" by Erik van Leeuwen, attribution: Erik van Leeuwen (bron: Wikipedia). - www.erki.nl. Licensed under GFDL via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Usain_Bolt_200_m_final_Daegu_2011.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Usain_Bolt_200_m_final_Daegu_2011.jpg "T-38 560FTS RandolphAFB 2001" by Photographer's Name: SSGT Jeffrey Allen, USAF - U.S. Defenseimagery.mil photo no. 011113-F-2171A-020 (DF-SD- 03-05096). Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:T- 38_560FTS_RandolphAFB_2001.jpeg#mediaviewer/File:T-38_560FTS_RandolphAFB_2001.jpeg
- 3. A virtual race •One can use advanced mathematics to simulate the performance of Bolt and an aircraft •Graphs can then be produced that compare the two (Bolt is the one with the lighter colour) •We can see how they do over 60 m and 100 m (the two main sprinting events) •Can use the graphs to study the kinematics (i.e. speed and acceleration)
- 4. Analysis •Look at the next three graphs •They give us distance, speed and acceleration •Try and understand them, see what they are saying to us!
- 8. What are the graphs telling us Usain Bolt starts with an explosive acceleration, almost equal to g (the acceleration of gravity)! This enables him to win the 60 m section of the race by 0.2 s But alas, human power has its limits.. He reaches a maximum speed of about 12 m/s that he cannot surpass Aircraft maintains almost constant acceleration of about 3 m/s2 This enables it to win the 100 m by 1.3 s The overall race is a draw!