The Physics of the Olympic Swimming Starting Block

In the 2012 Summer Olympics, Allison Schmitt set an Olympic record in the 200m freestyle, finishing the race in 1:53.61.

Her average velocity for the race was v_avg = x/t = 200m/113.61s = 1.760m/s. 

In this race, swimmers started by pushing off of a starting block.  The new Olympic starting blocks have a wedge at the back to allow the swimmer to push off of the wedge.  The forces on Allison Schmitt while she was on the starting block were F_N, F_friction, and F_gravity.  The normal force and frictional force have x and y components because the block is angled toward the pool.  The coordinate system is up = +y, down = -y, left = +x, right = -x.

Let’s assume the angle of the starting block is 25° and the coefficient of static friction is 0.6.

            a_x = (9.8m/s²)(tan 25° + 0.6)

            a_x = 10.4 m/s²

If the angle of the starting block was larger, Allison Schmitt’s acceleration would be larger (angle is 30°).

            a_x = (9.8m/s²)(tan 30° + 0.6)

            a_x = 11.5 m/s²

The old Olympic swimming starting blocks did not have a wedge, and were just a flat block.  The forces acting on Allison Schmitt would be the same for the old starting block, but her starting acceleration would be slower because the wedge is missing.

The addition of a wedge to the Olympic swimming starting blocks has allowed swimmers to increase their starting acceleration, which allows them to decrease their racing time and set new Olympic records, just like Allison Schmitt did in the 200m freestyle.

Sources:

http://www.wired.com/playbook/2012/07/olympics-physics-swimming-starting-blocks/

http://www.london2012.com/swimming/event/women-200m-freestyle/index.html