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ID: 3900181 • Letter: #
Question
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Straigh One Taller Uphill One Smaller uphill
Above is the profile of the course for a bicycle race. The race course has equal thirds of flat, uphill, and downhill. The race is an indivual time trial. In individual time trials racers start at intervals of 30 seconds they race by themselves as therefore do not have the advantage of the team to help. Two racers of the same height but of different body mass (one lighter and one heavier) are in the race. Describe the advantage and distanges each racer would have on the flat uphill and/or downhill based on air resistance, aerodynamics, gravity and body weight, mechical effieceny and phusioloical cost throught the race.Theoretically which racers do you think would beat the other?
Explanation / Answer
Air resistance: It depends upon frontal area and velocity. Since height of both racers is same, their frontal area will be same. So air resistance will solely depend upon their velocities.Gravity: The heavier racer will have higher gravitional pull downwards. The extra effort needed to push the racer's weight during uphill will get nullified by the additional advantage that they get due to gravity pulling them down during downhill. Since uphill distance = downhill distance, the effects get nullified.
Mechanical efficiency: The heavier racer will have to move more mass to a distance d than the lighter racer. Therefore'll heavier racer will need more energy. Therefore, his efficiency will be poor.
Considering the above facts, the heavier racer is likely to loose the race.
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