Whether or not someone wins a race depends upon a variety of factors including health, training and determination. The question for a science project is whether or not one of the factors for winning races includes height. Those doing the project set up the parameters of height and race distance relative to the age of those doing the science project that seeks to answer the question, “D oes a Tall Person Run Faster than a Shorter Person ?”
Short and Tall Project
To judge whether taller people run faster, choose runners who are considered short, medium and tall, at least in relationship to one another. Height parameters depend upon the age of the participants. All participants should be thin. Set up two race lengths one considerably longer than the other. Older participants run 50 and 100 yards, elementary-age runs races of 25 to 50 yards. Volunteers clock each racer. Have participants race three times on each course, providing time for resting between races. Document which racers won the shorter course and which won the longer. While boys and girls run together, clocking each participant gives you information on whether gender also plays a factor. Summarize whether or not the taller racers had an advantage.
Tall and Heavy Project
Choose a mix of tall thin, tall muscular and heavier, shorter thin and shorter heavier weight persons. (Specifics depend upon the age of the participants. Elementary-age children who participate in this science project will be smaller overall than if the project uses middle or high school students.) The object of this science project is to see if weight and body type as well as simply height changes the dynamic. The question would be, “Do taller persons run faster than shorter persons even when not thin?” Run five races of 100 yards each, but check times at two points–at the finish line and at 50 yards during the race. (Run half the distance for elementary children.) Clock the racers. Chart the results to determine if taller people always ran faster, even when carrying more weight than a thin, shorter individual.
Training Project
Interview track team and other sports team members as well as students not into sports. Choose tall and shorter people who train and deliberately eat to increase strength. Choose tall and shorter people who do not train or exercise regularly for a sport. Have all those chosen, both in and out of shape individuals, run three races of 50 yards for elementary children and 100 yards for middle and high school students. Document times of the racers. This science project helps answer the question, “Do shorter but more fit and trained individuals race faster than more out-of-shape taller persons?” Chart findings.
Research Project
Divide students into teams and have one team check out school records and the other team check out Olympic records. Have a third team research the current track students and program. The first two teams research height and weight of race winners in the different race categories. They are to uncover whether or not taller runners prevailed over shorter runners in all races. Students uncover whether taller people dominated in all race distances or just in some, such as long distances. Those checking out the school track team, interview the coaches and current track team members. They are to watch practices and races and chart whether or not the taller team member dominate. All teams summarize their findings.
Julian Trubin, “Short vs Tall,” www.odec.ca/projects/2005/gara5c0/public_html/