Are the Olympic Records corrected to gravity?

[sk8erdude]

There are games like High Jump, Pole Vaulting and others in Olympics. We know that the gravity varies from place to place. And it's known that there will be a variation of at least 0.3 m/s2 at poles when compared to equator.
So a person jumping at the equator jumps higher when compared to a person jumping at poles...
Am I thinking right? If not correct me!!!

 

[Phil L]

Gravity on the surface of Earth varies due to latitude (Earth is not truly spherical), altitude, and local geology (different rock density). For the latitude variation the effect is greatest between pole and equator, but it's only ~0.3%, not 0.3 m/s^2 which is ~3%.

That said, I don't think Olympic records are corrected for gravitational variations, because there isn't much point. Yes your theoretical intrinsic performance is affected by the slight variation, but so do the humidity, weather, and temperature of the day (and many other small factors) affect your performance. Sporting events are not like scientific experiments where you are trying to repeat the test numerous times for high precision on the measurements of some intrinsic properties.

 

[Sunny129]

see the following thread, as it is a related topic: Gravity and Height of a Person

in that thread, the discussion focuses on the concept that the slight variations in the earth's gravitational force from location to location on its surface cause differences in the amount of compression one's spinal cord experiences. thus, the same person would have different heights at different locations on the earth's surface whose gravitational forces differ slightly. but it is also mentioned in that thread that the difference in height caused by such minute differences in gravitational forces from one location to another is immeasurable with current technology.

so if the difference in one's height due to fluctuations in gravity from location to location is for all intents and purposes immeasurable, then so would be the difference in the height of one's jump in either of two locations with different gravitational forces present.

 

[pw38]

Yeah our world isn't nearly oblate enough to make those differences matter. We're nitpicking to the nth degree here.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Are olympic records corrected for altitude? Higher altitudes have less density so there's less wind resistance. Oh but it's harder to breathe since there's less oxygen. They correct for that too right?

They correct for the temperature that day don't they? Surely if one runner runs in 100 degree heat and the other runs in 70 degree weather there's a huge difference on your body. They should correct for that.

They should also correct for time of day. Supposedly you get a tiny bit shorter as the day goes on, meaning your feet are a little closer to your center of gravity so it has to be a little bit easier to clear the bar.

 

[Gibsons]

One of the greatest records in the olympics was Beamon's long jump. From Wiki

Prior to Beamon’s jump, the world record had been broken thirteen times since 1901, with an average increase of 6 cm (2½ in) and the largest increase being 15 cm (6 in) while Beamon's gold medal mark bettered the existing record by 55 cm (21¾ in.).

In making his record jump, Beamon enjoyed a number of advantageous environmental factors.[5] At an altitude of 2240 m (7349 ft), Mexico City's air had less resistance than air would have at sea level. This allows runners to run faster and jumpers to jump farther. In addition to Beamon's record, world records were broken in most of the sprinting and jumping events at the 1968 Olympic Games. Beamon also benefited from a trailing wind of 2 meters per second on his jump, the maximum allowable for record purposes. It has been estimated that the trail wind and altitude may have improved Beamon's long jump distance by 31 cm (12.2 inches).[6] During the same hour Lee Evans set the world record for 400 metres that lasted for almost 20 years.

 

[sk8erdude]

hmmm...quite a lot of paradoxes here...
@killercharlie-- you are right...maybe we're not "techi" enough to measure all those AND a lot more for a person who knows more than us!!..or maybe they are too negligible...
@Gibsons....maybe it just depends on luck!!!

 

[Cogman]

gravity effects are negligible when it comes to the Olympics.

O2 density is something that is real and does make a pretty big difference in performance. AFAIK, they don't correct for it.

 

[Cogman]

gravity effects are negligible when it comes to the Olympics.

O2 density is something that is real and does make a pretty big difference in performance. AFAIK, they don't correct for it.

 

[ForumMaster]

ahh, xkcd. never fails to supply an appropriate comic.