Why? The Science of Athletics

SOME MORE MATHEMATICS FOR ATHLETES 277 using four turns and thereby generating the necessary cumulative velocity, throws a I6 lbs. hammer I50 ft., the centrifugal force exerted, which represents the actual pull upon his arms, will be 366 lbs. ; the velocity of the hammer at the instant of release is 6g ft. per second ; the greatest vertical height attained in the parabola of flight is 37 ft. 6 ins., and the time of flight will be just over 3 seconds. The range of the hammer thrower's arm~effort is approximately the same as that of the discus thrower, but he is able to exert a greater pull, because he uses both arms, and, moreover, the hammer-head at the end of the shaft, which provides a prolongation of the arms, gives the head of the projectile itself a far wider range of swing than is the case with the discus, the outer rim of which lies directly under the thrower's fingers. It may be said, therefore, that the 4ft., representing the all-over measure– ment of the hammer, gives the thrower that much advan– tage over the discus thrower in range of swing, and explains why a I6 lbs. hammer has been thrown I8g ft. 6 I/2 ins. as against a throw of I7I ft. I I I/2 ins. with a discus weighing only 4 2/5 lbs. The following sketch illustrates the case of the shot putter : FIG. IOO The final and main force in projecting the shot is from s to a, which represents the range of arm-thrust from the