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World Class Sprints - Acceleration, Velocity, Distance

Author(s): 
David Smith

  1. Find the acceleration function a(t) as an explicit function of time t, still in terms of the parameters A and b.

  2. Find the distance function s(t) as an explicit function of time t, still in terms of the parameters A and b.

  3. Plot the acceleration, velocity, and distance functions, using the 1973 values of the parameters A and b.

  4. When does the maximum acceleration occur, and what is it? How long does it take for the acceleration to drop to 10% of its maximum value?

  5. What is the runner's maximum speed? How long does it take for the runner to reach 90% of this maximum? In races of 100 and 200 meters, is the final speed the same? Explain.

David Smith, "World Class Sprints - Acceleration, Velocity, Distance," Convergence (December 2004)