3 Questions: Anette Hosoi on engineering and the Olympics
How do engineers watch sports? Pretty much like the rest of us, but with a little more time spent scrutinizing the mechanics of athletes and the technologies they use. With the Olympics under way, Anette Hosoi, an associate professor in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and a wide-ranging sports fan, talked to MIT News about the mechanics of sports.Q. Many people were startled by the record-breaking performances of sprinter Usain Bolt in 2008. What is the key to his speed, as you see it?A. Two things that influence how fast you go are your stride frequency and your stride length. Speed is the product of those two things. It turns out that all sprinters’ frequencies are roughly the same; if you look at all the top runners, they’re basically moving their legs at the same frequency. But the amazing thing about Usain Bolt, the thing that sets him apart, is...