Have you seen the new Olympic starting pistol?

[hoosierdoc]

This is exactly it. Nothing anti-gun...all about the technology to get the timing system started accurately.

Hrm. So a gunshot detector doesn't work well enough and they need a light detector?

I would think starting the time when the computer hears the noise is the best method since that's when the athletes hear it as well. I dunno

 

[hoosierdoc]

Conquerors of Britain:
Romans
Normans
Michael Jackson

I expected to be called on that. they like to say they've not been conquered. Certainly not in the last millenium

Romans: 43 AD
Normans: 1066 AD

Michael Jackson: tee hee

 

[Midskier]

when I swam in high school the starter used a starters pistol, during the 500yd event
the official "shot" the leader on the last lap which let everyone know the race was almost over, my son swam the last 4 years in high school - the starter used a button and a tone for start - and still "shot" the leader on the last lap of the 500 with a starters pistol........

 

[swany11]

Funny side story...locally they have an "all-comers" track meet each Friday. Even the little ones can run. My 3.5 year old was lined up to run the 200m...gun goes off...puddle of pee forms on the track.

 

[Bill B]

Ironic then, that they will build a watch that shoots, but build a gun that doesn't...

+1 I'd rep you, but I'm out.

 

[Westside]

part of the reason is "fairness" If you look in the picture below you will see a small yellow speaker with a wire connected to it behind each runner. This is that each runner hears the shot at the same time and volume.

 

[Excalibur]

Actually that starter pistol looks kinda cool. It's like a phaser

 

[Sylvain]

Conquerors of Britain:

Romans
Normans
Michael Jackson

 

[Hornett]

Hrm. So a gunshot detector doesn't work well enough and they need a light detector?

I would think starting the time when the computer hears the noise is the best method since that's when the athletes hear it as well. I dunno

Light travels faster than sound.
Sound travels at a little more than 1100 feet per second depending on the air density.
Now the starter is usually about 250 feet from the timing tower at a high school meet.
It is probably farther away in the Olympics where everything is scaled bigger.
If I have my maths right and if you go by sound, The clock could start by as much as .2 to .4 seconds off.
That is a lot of inaccuracy for a big deal like the Olympics.

 

[swany11]

Hrm. So a gunshot detector doesn't work well enough and they need a light detector?

I would think starting the time when the computer hears the noise is the best method since that's when the athletes hear it as well. I dunno

I'm pretty sure the timing system does not start based on the sound, but rather an electronic mechanism inside the gun. That goes for the old and new pistol.
And as long as the time starts the same for everyone, all is good.

Edit: and what Hornett said earlier.

 

[NYFelon]

You'd have lost had Hardrada not attacked relatively simultaneously.

Tostig the Traitor should burn.

That said, History buffs unite!

 

[jblomenberg16]

Betcha didn't know that the Olympics has actual marksmanship events. If they were really anti-gun they'd be getting rid of them. The media just doesn't give them a lot of air time.

Shooting at the Summer Olympics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[hoosierdoc]

Light travels faster than sound.
Sound travels at a little more than 1100 feet per second depending on the air density.
Now the starter is usually about 250 feet from the timing tower at a high school meet.
It is probably farther away in the Olympics where everything is scaled bigger.
If I have my maths right and if you go by sound, The clock could start by as much as .2 to .4 seconds off.
That is a lot of inaccuracy for a big deal like the Olympics.

That's actually a good description of the physics involved. I hadn't considered a remote timing mechanism. I guess I was assuming it was magically next to the start line. Thanks for the breakdown.