Simplified Biomechanics for a Possible Explanation of the Ancient Greek Long Jump Using Halteres

Christopher Provatidis

doi:10.13189/ujes.2013.010102

Abstract

In this paper closed form analytical expressions were derived in order to simulate the possible action of halteres used in the ancient Greek long jump. For the sake of simplicity, elementary theory of rigid body dynamics is used, which however is capable of simulating the motion of a hypothetical rigid jumper for whom the Cartesian components of the initial velocity at the take-off and the angular velocity of rotating arms are prescribed. Particular attention is paid on the initial position and the direction of arms' rotation as well as on the role of the amount of masses due to the halteres. It was found that if at the take-off the upper limbs are upwards, also rotate forwards, whereas at the landing they are almost downwards, the length of the jump increases as the weight of the halters.

Highlights

Inertial Propulsion research [1-10]
This paper tests the hypothesis that in the Greek long jump the hands were on “uplift” at the moment of the take-off, and probably performed more than one rotation forwards. The latter comes from previous experience gained from studies on a vertically jumping “antigravity” mechanism based on rotating masses [11-13]
In addition to the initial velocity, another factor is the impulse produced by the moving members, which is related to additional energy released from jumper’s chemical energy

Summary

Introduction

This paper tests the hypothesis that in the Greek long jump the hands were on “uplift” at the moment of the take-off, and probably performed more than one rotation forwards (clockwise). The latter comes from previous experience gained from studies on a vertically jumping “antigravity” (inertial propulsion) mechanism based on rotating masses [11-13]. In the latter studies it had been found that the maximum jump is produced when the take-off velocities of the rotating masses were parallel to the object’s motion. Standing long jumps are highly depended on the change of the geometry of jumper’s body and will be studied in a forthcoming paper

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion