Question

When sprinters start a race, sensors in their starting blocks can register a false start. They detect a change in pressure against the block as the athlete starts. If the time difference between the starting gun going off and the change in pressure is too short, a false start is registered. a) Which of these times could be the time difference that gives a false start?  Less than 0.2 seconds  0.2 seconds  More than 0.2 seconds.

Answer 1

Start is less than 0.2 seconds.

Option (A) is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

• For track and field sprints, the governing body of the event, the IAAF, has a policy that if the participant travels within 0.1 seconds after the shot has released the competitor, it would be inaccurate.
• This calculation is focused on experiments that demonstrate that the human brain is unable to detect and interpret input from the start sound in less than 0.10 seconds.
• Therefore, the time difference that gives a false start is less than 0.2 seconds.
• For many years, after their second false start, the International Association of Athletics Federations disqualified sprinters.