VISUAL PHYSICS ONLINE

2 DYNAMICS

P20 008

The picture below shows the starting position used by sprinters. Explain why this starting position is always used by sprinters at the start of a race.

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Solution

The position of the body is such that the forward movement of the legs can exert the greatest push on the ground. Thus, the ground can exert the greatest force on the sprinter (Newton’s Third Law). This gives the maximum acceleration and greatest initial velocity (Newton’s Second Law).