Thursday, August 04, 2016
Bang!
RCS has an interesting note about Sport tradition. I hadn't thought about this because I never think about Sport.
Question: Why do sprint-type races start with a gunshot? Why not a light? We've known for a long time that sound takes a finite time to travel, so the runners at the far end of the row have a noticeable disadvantage, which could make a real difference in modern precise steroid-driven Sport. Light is instant for all practical purposes.
Answer given by RCS: Because the reflex path from the cochlea is shorter than the visual reflex path by about 40 ms.
True in itself, but couldn't have been the original reason.
This difference wasn't known until fairly recently, and it wouldn't change the result of a race anyway. Thus it doesn't matter.
Primary reason: Guns have been available for 500 years. Drums have been available forever. Easily controlled bright lights have been available for 80 years.
Secondary: Sport things are traditionally outside in daytime. In bright daylight you can't see a bright light. A sharp sound can be heard equally well day and night.
Tertiary: Sound triggers the startle reflex more effectively than light. This reflex is suppressed in normal nervous systems but always present. The specific muscle contractions of a startle are exactly what you need to get out of a starting-block crouch.
¶ 3:20 AM 
