FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye

Taylors University
0325002

PRACTICAL 2
SPRINT START KINEMATICS

NAME
STUDENT ID

:
:

GROUP MEMBERS :

LECTURER

JASON KEAN SHERN KYE

0325002
1. ALVIN LU JUN YI
2. CHENG EURENE
3. DANIEL OOI EN YAO
4. LEE CHYI JYH

MR. STEVEN HOO CHOON LIH

Date of Experiment:1st September 2015

Report due date: 15th September 2015
Report submission date: 14th September 2015
Checked by:

FOUNDATION OF ENGINEERING

1|Page

Item/marks
Format/10
Abstract and Introduction/10
Figures and Diagrams/15
Materials and Method/10
Results Discussions/45
References/10
Total

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
TAYLORS UNIVERSITY
MALAYSIA

CONTENTS

Abstract
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Experimental Design
2(a) Materials
2(b) Methods
2(c) Procedure
3.0 Results and Discussion
3(a) Results
3(b) Discussion
4.0 Conclusions and Recommendations
References.

2|Page

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

ABSTRACT
This experiment is to demonstrate the relationship between displacement, velocity and
acceleration of an athlete during a 50m sprint. The relationship was studied through an
experiment involving two individuals sprinting in a distance of 50m, where its time taken to
complete the sprint was recorded at each 5m intervals. The velocity and acceleration at each
interval was calculated. Through this experiment, it is observed that displacement increases as
time increases, velocity increases in the beginning and decreases near the end of the sprint,
and acceleration decreases as time increases.

1.0 Introduction
This experiment is to demonstrate and to study the relationship between displacement,
velocity and acceleration of an athlete in a 50m sprint. Displacement, which is a vector
quantity can be defined as the shortest distance travelled by an object between two points, or
it can also similarly be explained as the overall change of position of an object [1][7]. Velocity
is a derived quantity which is defined as the rate of change of displacement [2]. Acceleration
which is another derived quantity can be defined as the rate of change of velocity [3].
Through this experiment, a deeper understanding of the fundamental concepts of linear
motion or also known as rectilinear motion will be achieved [4]. Linear motion can be
explained and defined as a motion of an object travelling in a straight line [5]. Linear motion
consists of two forms. One of which is a uniform linear motion with constant velocity,
whereas the other is a non-linear motion with variable velocity [6].
In this experiment:
Two individuals are to sprint in a straight distance of 50 meters. The elapsed time taken for
each individual to complete the sprint was measured at 5 meter intervals. The individuals
were to repeat the sprint for an additional of two more repetitions in order to obtain an
average time taken for a more accurate data. The velocity and acceleration at every 5 meter
intervals was calculated and determined as below:

3|Page

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

(a) Formula to calculate duration of intervals:

t=t 2t 1
t

Where

represents duration of intervals (s),

complete the 5m interval (s) and

t1

t2

represents the final time taken to

represents the initial time at reaching the 5m interval

(s)

(b) Formula to calculate velocity at each intervals:

v=

Where
t

x
t
x

1
represents the velocity ( ms ),

represents the displacement (m), and

represents the duration of intervals (s).

(c) Formula to calculate the mid-interval time:

t '=

Where

t'

represents the mid-interval time,

5m interval (s) and t 2

t 1 +t 2
2
t1

represents the final time taken to complete the 5m interval (s)

(d) Formula to calculate the velocity of intervals:

v=v 2 v 1

4|Page

represents the initial time at reaching the

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

Where v

1
represents the velocity of interval ( ms ), v 2

in the 5m interval ( ms

represents the final velocity

1
) and v 1 initial velocity in the 5m interval ( ms )

(e) Formula to calculate the duration of mid-interval time:

t '=t ' 2t ' 1
Where t '

represents the duration of mid-interval time (s), t ' 2 represents the final mid-

interval time taken to complete the 5m interval (s) and

t '1

represents the initial mid-

interval time at reaching the 5m interval (s)

(f) Formula to calculate acceleration at each intervals:
a=

v
t'

2
Where a represents the acceleration ( m s ),

m s1 ), t '

represents the velocity of interval (

represents the duration of mid-interval time (s).

(g) Formula to calculate mid-mid-interval time:

t ' '=

t ' 1 +t ' 2
2

Where

t''

represents the mid-mid-interval time (s),

interval at reaching the 5m interval (s) and

reaching the 5m interval (s)

5|Page

t '2

t '1

represents the initial mid-time

represents the final mid-time interval at

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

In this experiment, a total of 3 graphs were generated:

(a) Position of the athlete within the 50 meters against time
(b) Velocity of the athlete against time
(c) Acceleration of the athlete against time
An example of a graph of position of the athlete against time, velocity of the athlete against
time and the acceleration of the athlete against time are shown as below. The graphs were
generated based on the data obtained from the finals of the 100 meter event at the Seoul
Olympics in 1988. The prime competitors of the event was Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson. The
data was recorded and obtained from Brueggemann & Glad (1989) and was also quoted by
McGinnis (2005)

Seoul Olympics 100m Sprint: Position vs. Time

100
90
80
70
60

Position (m)

50
40
30
20
10
0
0

Time (s)
Ben Johnson

6|Page

Carl Lewis

10

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

Graph 1.1 Seoul Olympics (1988) 100m Sprint: Position vs. Time

Seoul Olympics 100m Sprint: Velocity vs. Time

13
12
11
10
9

Velocity (ms)

8
7
6
5
4
0

Time (s)
Ben Johnson

7|Page

Carl Lewis

10

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

Graph 1.2 Seoul Olympics (1988) 100m Sprint: Velocity vs. Time

Seoul Olympics 100m Sprint: Acceleration vs. Time

4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5

,Acceleration (ms)

2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
0
-0.5

Time (s)
Ben Johnson

8|Page

Carl Lewis

10

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

Graph 1.3 Seoul Olympics (1988) 100m Sprint: Acceleration vs. Time

1. According to the data and the corresponding graphs, it shows that Ben Johnson won
the 1988 Seoul Olympics 100m Finals.
2. According to the data and the corresponding graphs, it shows that Carl Lewis was
faster than Ben Johnson in the first half of the race.
3. According to the data and the corresponding graph, it shows that both runners slowed
down in the last part of the race. The deceleration of Ben Johnson has a greater
magnitude compared to Carl Lewis.

9|Page

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

2.0 Experimental Design

2(a)

END
50

4
4

50 meters sprint track

20

Chalk markings

10

START

5 meter interval

Materials
The list below is the complete materials and apparatus required for the experiment.
Measuring Tape
Chalks
Stopwatch
2(b) Methods
In this experiment:
A length of 50 meter was measured using a measuring tape. The measuring tape was
measured parallel to a straight line to ensure that the track is not bent or winded. The initial
point of the measurement was marked as Start and the end point of the measurement was
marked as End with a chalk. At every 5 meter interval, a line is drawn by using a chalk to
mark the intervals. A timekeeper was required to record the elapsed time of the athletes to
complete the sprint track using a stopwatch. Volunteers were placed at each 5 meter intervals
and were requested to shout Check when the athlete has pass the interval to enable the
timekeeper to lap the time on the stopwatch. The sprint was repeated at 2 more repetitions to

10 | P a g e

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

obtain the average time taken to complete the sprint in order to calculate a more accurate
result.
2(c) Procedure
In this experiment
1

A sprint track with a distance of 50m was measured with a measuring tape.

Ten 5m intervals were marked on the track with chalk.

A student with a stopwatch was assigned as the timekeeper.

10 volunteers were assigned to each interval.

The first athlete then ran along the sprint track and the split time of the athlete at 5
meter intervals were recorded by the timekeeper.

Step 5 was repeated with a second athlete to make a comparison with the first athlete.

The experiment was repeated for 2 more repetitions to obtain an average result.

The split time of both of the athletes at 5 meter intervals were recorded and tabulated
as shown in Table 1.1.

The duration of intervals, velocity, acceleration and mid-interval time of both athletes
were calculated and tabulated as shown in Table 2.1 and Table 2.2.

10 Graph of position vs. time, velocity vs. time and acceleration vs. time were plotted to
compare the performance of both athletes as shown in Graph 2.1, Graph 2.2 and
Graph 2.3.

11 | P a g e

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

3.1

Results and Discussion

3(a) Results
Table 1.1: Split time and position of both athletes
Runner 1 (Daniel Ooi)
Position
(m)
0

0.00

Run 2
Time
(s)
0.00

0.98

0.90

1.15

1.01

1.69

1.43

1.18

1.43

10

2.05

2.48

2.23

2.25

2.32

2.20

1.94

2.15

15

3.10

3.46

2.95

3.17

2.92

2.89

2.96

2.92

20

3.45

4.01

3.76

3.91

3.46

3.51

3.44

3.47

25

4.64

4.84

4.38

4.62

4.24

4.41

4.39

4.35

30

5.38

5.58

4.81

5.26

5.16

5.29

4.93

5.13

35

5.90

6.14

5.49

5.84

5.88

5.95

5.33

5.79

40

6.70

6.88

6.26

6.61

6.61

6.48

6.17

6.42

45

8.05

7.66

7.11

7.61

7.66

7.03

6.86

7.18

50

8.46

8.46

8.08

8.33

8.01

7.60

8.20

7.94

Position,
x (m)

Run 1

Runner 2 (Jason Kean)

Time (s)

Time
, t (s)

Run 3

Average

Run 1

Run 2

Run 3

Average

Time (s)

Time (s)

Time (s)

Time (s)

Time (s)

Time (s)

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

Displacement,
x (m)

Duration
of
Intervals,
t (s)

Velocity,
v (m/s)

MidInterval
Time, t
(s)

v
(m/s)

a
(

t
(s)

m/s

M
Int
Tim
(

0.00

)
-

1.01

1.01

4.95

0.51

10

1.76

0.75

6.67

1.39

1.72

0.88

1.95

15

3.17

1.41

3.55

2.47

-3.12

1.08

-2.89

20

3.91

0.74

6.76

3.54

3.21

1.08

2.99

25

4.62

0.71

7.04

4.27

0.29

0.73

0.39

30

5.26

0.64

7.81

4.94

0.77

0.67

1.14

35

5.84

0.58

8.62

5.55

0.81

0.61

1.32

40

6.61

0.77

6.49

6.23

-2.13

0.68

-3.15

12 | P a g e

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

45

7.61

5.00

7.11

-1.49

0.89

-1.69

50

8.33

0.72

6.94

7.97

1.94

0.86

2.26

Table 2.1: Velocity and acceleration of athlete (1) Daniel Ooi

Position,
x (m)

Time
, t (s)

Displacement,
x (m)

Duration
of
Intervals,
t (s)

Velocity,
v (m/s)

MidInterval
Time, t
(s)

v
(m/s)

t
(s)

a
(

m/s 2
)

M
Int
Tim
(

0.00

1.43

1.43

3.50

0.72

10

2.15

0.72

6.94

1.79

3.45

1.08

3.21

15

2.92

0.77

6.49

2.54

-0.45

0.75

-0.61

20

3.47

0.55

9.09

3.20

2.60

0.66

3.94

25

4.35

0.88

5.68

3.91

-3.41

0.72

-4.77

30

5.13

0.78

6.41

4.74

0.73

0.83

0.88

35

5.79

0.66

7.58

5.46

1.17

0.72

1.62

40

6.42

0.63

7.94

6.11

0.36

0.65

0.56

45

7.18

0.76

6.58

6.80

-1.36

0.69

-1.95

50

7.94

0.76

6.58

7.56

0.00

0.76

0.00

Table 2.2: Velocity and acceleration of athlete (2) Jason Kean

Graph 2.1: 50 meter sprint: Position vs. Time

13 | P a g e

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

50 meter sprint: Position vs. Time

60
50
Daniel Ooi

Curve Line (Daniel Ooi)

Jason Kean

40

Position, s (m)

30
20

Curve Line (Jason Kean)

10

Time, t (s)
Graph 2.2: 50 meter sprint: Velocity vs. Time

50m sprint: Velocity vs. Time

10.00
9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00

Velocity, v (ms)

5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00

Time, t (s)

14 | P a g e

Daniel Ooi

Curve Line (Daniel Ooi)

Jason Kean

Curve Line (Jason Kean)

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

Graph 2.3: 50 meter sprint: Acceleration vs. Time

50 meter sprint: Acceleration vs. Time

5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00

Acceleration, a (ms)

0.00
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00
-1.00
-2.00
-3.00
-4.00
-5.00

Time, t'' (s)

15 | P a g e

Daniel Ooi

Curve Line (Daniel Ooi)

Jason Kean

Curve Line (Jason Kean)

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

3(b) Discussion
I.

In terms of trends of velocity:

Athlete 2 (Jason Kean), has achieved a higher peak velocity compared to athlete 1
(Daniel Ooi) throughout the race. In the first quartile, the velocity of Daniels was
higher than Jason. In the second quartile to the third quartile of the sprint, Jasons
velocity was higher compared to Daniels velocity. At the fourth quartile of the sprint,
Daniels velocity was higher again compared to Jasons velocity.
In term of trends of acceleration:
In the initial point of the sprint, Jasons acceleration achieved a higher magnitude
compared to Daniel. Both athletes shows deceleration while completing the 50m
sprint. In the second quartile of the race, Daniels deceleration has achieved a lower
magnitude compared to Jason. Throughout the whole race, Jasons deceleration has a
higher magnitude compared to Daniel.

II.

Throughout the 50m sprint, Athlete 1 (Daniel Ooi) achieved a maximum velocity of
8.62ms, whereas Athlete 2 (Jason Kean) achieved a maximum velocity of 9.09ms.
In the 1988 Seoul Olympics 100m Final, both of the athletes Ben Johnson and Carl
Lewis achieved a same maximum velocity which was 12.00ms. In comparison
between the Olympic athletes and Athlete 1 and 2 in a 50m sprint, the Olympic
athletes achieved a higher maximum velocity. The average velocity of Jason was
6.30ms throughout the whole 50m sprint, whereas Daniels average velocity for the
entire 50m sprint was 6.00ms.

III.

Through extrapolation of the curve fit in the acceleration vs. time graph, the initial
acceleration of both of the runners were obtained. Athlete 1 (Daniel Ooi) had an initial
acceleration of 1.50ms, whereas Athlete 2 (Jason Kean) had an initial acceleration of
4.20ms.

4.0 Conclusions and Recommendations

The occurrence of absolute uncertainty will always be present in every measurement made.
The more accurate the measurements will be when the value of percentage(%) uncertainty is

16 | P a g e

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

smaller. This series of experiments was to demonstrate and educates us on the usage of
absolute
4.0 Conclusions and Recommendations
Through this experiment, it is found and observed that displacement increases as time
increases throughout the 50m sprint. The velocity of both athletes were different throughout
the entire race, resulting in a different curve fit on the velocity vs. time graph. Based on the
graph, both of the athletes reached their maximum velocity during the middle of the 2 nd and
3rd quartile of the 50m sprint. Furthermore, both athletes achieved their highest acceleration in
the initial point of the sprint. Based on the curve fit of the graph, it is shown that acceleration
decreases as time increases.
While conducting the experiment, there were a few problems present. First of all, Volunteers
assigned at their respective intervals were unable to determine precisely the exact moment the
athlete passes each interval which resulted in a less accurate data. Furthermore, each volunteer
has different reaction time, therefore the timekeeper who is recording the split time of the
runners could not obtain an accurate reading at each interval. Last but not least, the athletes
chosen for the experiment were not professional athletes, therefore an optimum data and
result were unable to be achieved.
There are few recommendations that can be given to further improve the experiment. First of
all, this experiment should be conducted with professional sprinters in order to obtain better
results. Furthermore, each volunteers assigned at the interval must be provided with a
stopwatch in order to record a more accurate split time. Last but not least, substitution of
stopwatches with fast computerized time recording devices will be highly beneficial for this
experiment as the reaction time of the devices are much faster than humans.

17 | P a g e

FIE School of Engineering

Jason Kean Shern Kye
Taylors University
0325002

REFERENCES
Works Cited

1. Henderson, Tom. Distance and Displacement. The Physics Classroom. [Online] Cloud
Flare, Inc, Febuary 7, 2001. [Cited: March 28, 2015.]
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/1dkin/u1l1c.cfm.
2. Elert, Glenn. Speed and velocity. The Physics Hypertextbook. [Online] Hawk Host Inc.,
July 13, 2002. [Cited: March 28, 2015.] http://physics.info/velocity/.
3. . Acceleration. The Physics Hypertextbook. [Online] Hawk Host Inc., July 13, 2002.
[Cited: March 28, 2015.] http://physics.info/acceleration/.
4. Resnick, Robert and Halliday, David. Physics. s.l. : Wiley, 1966.
5. Burkett, Brendan. Basic principles for understanding sport mechanics. Sport Mechanics
for Coaches Third edition. s.l. : Brendan Burkett, 2010, p. 264.
6. Linear Motion. Wikipedia. [Online] Wikipedia, March 29, 2008. [Cited: March 28, 2015.]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_motion.
7. LOH, KAI MING. PHY30105 PHYSICS 1, SUBANG JAYA : TAYLORS UNIVERSITY, 2015.

18 | P a g e