Constant Velocity

Tj Bjorklund

9/24/14

Mod B

Constant Velocity

PROPOSAL

        In the common day, many athletes throughout the world own or have become accustomed to using a treadmill, especially in the winter, in order to train and create the physical sensation of running. Some sports (athletic activities...), namely: Track and Cross Country, require running specific distances in the shortest amount of time possible. While the treadmill is an excellent way in order to gauge the speed and distance of an athlete, how reliable is it? When the treadmill displays one mile, 1600m, did the athlete truly run one mile? Or did they really run less, such as 1362 m? This is a critical question that requires further research. Velocity, the direction and at what rate must be tested, will be tested however; in this case, speed, the rate of travel, will suffice. The runners must specifically know their distance ran and in how long, or their race may be at stake!

[pic 1]

Measure: Time from point 'A' to point 'B'

Manipulated: Treadmill speed

Constant: Set distance between point 'A' and 'B'

Calculate: Velocity (speed of treadmill)

Velocity = ( Displacement / Time )

Displacement = ( end point - start point )

        In order to test such a feat, I plan on using the treadmill that I possess in order to judge the velocity of the belt, the section that you run on, from point 'A' to point 'B'. Point 'A' will be at the very top of the treadmill while point 'B' will be at the very end of the treadmill. Both of these points will not be on the running part of the treadmill, however, instead just on the side, so that the points remain at a constant positions. In order to establish the points, I will clearly mark them with pieces of tape for more specific measurements. Recall that only the top part will be used. After setting up the tape, I will grab a meter stick in order to measure the distance between point 'A' and point 'B'. I will be placing them sixty centimeters apart on a treadmill set with zero incline. Then, I'll place a third piece of tape, I'll call this the test point, somewhere on the running section of the treadmill, and then move it to point 'A'. Next, I will be able to use a stopwatch in order to record the time that it takes for the test tape to travel from point 'A' to point 'B' at a few different treadmill speeds, such as starting at .5 mph and increasing by .2 every for every test (treadmill units - mph). With the data, I can convert displacement, the distance in addition to direction, divided by the time taken in order to get velocity ( v = Displacement / Time). I will then be able to compare the physical distance ran, in addition to the velocity, to what the treadmill displays. If this creates any confusion, please refer to the highly scientific diagram displayed above.