HUMAN POWER OUTPUT: THE MECHANICS OF POLE VAULTING

Abstract

Slow motion cine-photograph has been used to study the performance of polo vaulters. By plotting the trajectory of the centre of gravity, it can be shown that most of the energy required is stored in kinetic form during the run-up; unfortunately, a high initial speed (high initial kinetic energy) seems to be attended by correspondingly largo losses during the rest of the vault. The most successful performers take off at moderate speed and add to their energy by active performance of work while they are swinging up on the pole