arXiv subjects

J. R. Mureika

Publications and source records attributed to J. R. Mureika.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2001

The Legality of Wind and Altitude Assisted Performances in the Sprints

Based on a mathematical simulation which reproduces accurate split and velocity profiles for the 100 and 200 metre sprints, the magnitudes of altitude and mixed wind/altitude-assisted performances as compared to their sea-level equivalents are presented. It is shown that altitude-assisted times for the 200 metre are significantly higher than for the 100 metre, suggesting that the ``legality'' of such marks perhaps be reconsidered.

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv2000

A realistic quasi-physical model of the 100 metre dash

A quasi-physical model (having both physical and mathematical roots) of sprint performances is presented, accounting for the influence of drag modification via wind and altitude variations. The race time corrections for both men and women sprinters are discussed, and theoretical estimates for the associated drag areas are presented. The corrections are consistent with constant-wind estimates of previous authors, however those for variable wind are more accentuated for this model. As a practical example, the nullified World Record and 1988 Olympic 100 m race of Ben Johnson is studied, and compared with the present World Record of 9.79 s.

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv2000

"Back-of-the-envelope" wind and altitude correction for 100 metre sprint times

A simple algebraic expression is presented to correct men's and women's 100 metre sprint times for ambient wind and altitude effects. The simplified formula is derived from a more complicated equation of motion used to model the athlete's velocity as a function of time (the velocity curve). This method predicts adjustments to 0-wind and 0-altitude equivalents, which are in excellent agreement to other estimates presented in the literature. The expression is easily programmable on any computer, and could conveniently be used by coaches, meet directors, or the media to assess the performance of athletes and the quality of a race immediately following the event.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv1999

9.84 vs. 9.84: The Battle of Bruny and Bailey

At the recent 1999 World Athletics Championships in Sevilla, Spain, Canada's Bruny Surin matched Donovan Bailey's National and former World Record 100 m mark of 9.84 s. The unofficial times for each, as read from the photo-finish, were 9.833 s and 9.835 s respectively. Who, then, is the fastest Canadian of all time? A possible solution is offered, accounting for drag effects resulting from ambient tail-winds and altitude.

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv1998

How Good Can We Get? Using mathematical models to predict the future of athletics

Track and field world records have risen and fallen throughout the history of the sport. A recent rash of record-breaking performances has prompted the question: "How good can we get?". This article offers a review of several attempts to answer this question, based on mathematical modeling of key physiological processes. The predictions are compared with present-day world records, and a discussion of the future of athletics ensues...

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv1997

It's a Wrap! Reviewing the 1997 Outdoor Season

The 100m world rankings of the 1997 outdoor track and field competition season are reviewed, subject to corrections for wind effects and atmospheric drag. The rankings and times are compared with those of 1996, and the improvements of each athlete over the course of a year are discussed. Additionally, the athletes' wind-corrected 50m and 60m splits from the 1997 IAAF World Championships are compared to the 1997 indoor world rankings over the same distances, as an attempt to predict possible performances for the coming 1998 indoor season.

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv1997

Another Dash into the Record Books (wind: -2.1 m/s)

In the wake of numerous injuries and Donovan Bailey's media-stamped "sub-par" 100m victory of 10.03s at the 1997 Canadian Track and Field Championships, a medal hope at the 1997 World Championships seems grim for the Olympic Champion and World Record holder. However, when one considers that the 10.03s was run into a hefty head-wind (-2.1 m/s), a simple correction for this effect can help to restore Canada's faith in their sprint hero -- not to mention rewrite the record books again.

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv1997

What was the fastest 100m final?

In a previous article (physics/9705004), the best 100m performances in track and field were determined by accounting for wind effects and atmospheric drag. In this report, I seek to ascertain what was the "fastest" 100m final through a statistical analysis of the competitors' times. Considered are the 100 finals from the 1984-1996 Olympic Games, the 1983-1997 World Championships, and the 1996 Grand Prix Final from Lausanne, SWI, in which Frank Fredericks (Namibia) recorded the only sub-9.90s time ever into a head-wind (9.86s, -0.4 m/s).

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv1997

Testing the Sprint Curve Model using the 150m Bailey-Johnson Showdown

Recently, a simple model was derived to account for a sprinter's energy loss around a curve, based on previous sprint models for linear races. This paper offers a quick test of the model's precision by comparing split times from Donovan Bailey's 150m ``Challenge of Champions'' race at Skydome on June 1st, 1997. The discrepancy in the track configuration which almost prompted Bailey to drop from the race is also addressed.

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv1997

What really are the best 100m performances?

A quick and fun investigation into the effects of correcting for wind assistance/resistance and drag on 100m sprint performances. Considered are World 100m rankings, as well as Canadian rankings

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv1997

And the Winner Is . . . Predicting the Outcome of the 150m Showdown

Using the model framework for curve running as described in physics/9704022, the possible outcome of the 150m "One to One" showdown between sprinters Donovan Bailey and Michael Johnson are discussed (to be run 01 Jun 1997 at Skydome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada).

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv1997

A Simple Model for Predicting Sprint Race Times Accounting for Energy Loss on the Curve

The mathematical model of J. Keller for predicting World Record race times, based on a simple differential equation of motion, predicted quite well the records of the day. One of its shortcoming is that it neglects to account for a sprinter's energy loss around a curve, a most important consideration particularly in the 200m--400m. An extension to Keller's work is considered, modeling the aforementioned energy loss as a simple function of the centrifugal force acting on the runner around the curve. Theoretical World Record performances for indoor and outdoor 200m are discussed, and the use of the model at 300m is investigated. Some predictions are made for possible 200m outdoor and indoor times as run by Canadian 100m WR holder Donovan Bailey, based on his 100m final performance at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv1996

An Investigation of Equivalence Principle Violations Using Solar Neutrino Oscillations in a Constant Gravitational Potential

Neutrino oscillations induced by a flavor-dependent violation of the Einstein Equivalence Principle (VEP) have been recently considered as a suitable explanation of the solar electron-neutrino deficiency. Unlike the MSW oscillation mechanism, the VEP mechanism is dependent on a coupling to the local background gravitational potential $Φ$. We investigate the differences which arise by considering three-flavor VEP neutrinos oscillating against fixed background potentials, and against the radially-dependent solar potential. This can help determine the sensitivity of the gravitationally-induced oscillations to both constancy and size (order of magnitude) of $Φ$. In particular, we consider the potential of the local superculster, $|Φ|=3\times 10^{-5}$, in light of recent work suggesting that the varying solar potential has no effect on the oscillations. The possibility for arbitrarily large background potentials in different cosmologies is discussed, and the effects of one such potential ($Φ= 10^{-3}$) are considered.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1996

Three Flavour Gravitationally Induced Neutrino Oscillations and the Solar Neutrino Problem

Some implications of the proposal that flavor nondiagonal couplings of neutrinos to gravity might resolve the solar neutrino problem are considered in the context of three neutrino flavors. The two--flavor model is discussed as a limiting case of the full three-generation mechanism, and the behavior of the $\nue$ survival probability for various values of the three--flavor parameters is studied. Overlapping allowed SNU regions are obtained for the neutrinos which most likely contribute to the observed solar neutrino deficiency, and the effects of the addition of a third flavor are discussed. The extension to a three--generation framework is found to yield a greater allowed region of parameter space, suggesting that gravitationally--induced neutrino oscillations remain a viable explanation of the Solar Neutrino Problem.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1995

Mass or Gravitationally Induced Neutrino Oscillations? -- A Comparison of $\B$ Neutrino Flux Spectra in a Three--Generation Framework

Both gravitational and mass induced neutrino oscillation mechanisms provide possible resolutions to the Solar Neutrino Problem. The distinguishing feature between the two mechanisms is their dependence on the neutrino energy. We investigate the implications of this by computing the $\B$ neutrino spectrum as determined from each mechanism using a realistic three--flavor evolution model. We find that in the limit of small $\tetau$ mixing angle, the differences are significant enough to observe in future solar neutrino experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1995

Gravitationally--Induced Three--Flavor Neutrino Oscillations as a Possible Solution to the Solar Neutrino Problem

Neutrinos can undergo flavor--oscillations if they possess flavor--dependent couplings to the surrounding gravitational field (the VEP mechanism). The neutrino fields can be massless, in accord with the Minimal Standard Model, but at the expense of the Einstein Equivalence Principle. We show that it is possible to explain the observed Solar Neutrino data from the various experiments using the VEP solution in a realistic three--generation framework, and further note how the three--flavor model can offer larger allowed regions of parameter space over the two--flavor models.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1995

Adiabatic Analysis of Gravitationally-Induced Three-Flavor Neutrino Oscillations

Some implications of the proposal that flavor nondiagonal couplings of neutrinos to gravity might resolve the solar neutrino problem are considered in the context of three neutrino flavours. Using an adiabatic approximation iso-SNU curves are calculated for the neutrinos which most likely contribute to the observed solar neutrino deficiency. We show that results obtained with two-flavor models can be recovered, and discuss the effects of the addition of a third flavor. Some results are obtained for this case, and these values are compared with recent experimental data.

hep-ph↗