What is Running: Definition and 385 Discussions

Running is a method of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. Running is a type of gait characterized by an aerial phase in which all feet are above the ground (though there are exceptions). This is in contrast to walking, where one foot is always in contact with the ground, the legs are kept mostly straight and the center of gravity vaults over the stance leg or legs in an inverted pendulum fashion. A feature of a running body from the viewpoint of spring-mass mechanics is that changes in kinetic and potential energy within a stride occur simultaneously, with energy storage accomplished by springy tendons and passive muscle elasticity. The term running can refer to any of a variety of speeds ranging from jogging to sprinting.
Running in humans is associated with improved health and life expectancy.It is assumed that the ancestors of humankind developed the ability to run for long distances about 2.6 million years ago, probably in order to hunt animals. Competitive running grew out of religious festivals in various areas. Records of competitive racing date back to the Tailteann Games in Ireland between 632 BCE and 1171 BCE, while the first recorded Olympic Games took place in 776 BCE. Running has been described as the world's most accessible sport.

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  1. J

    Running Around a Tree at the Speed of Light: Can You Touch Yourself?

    Hi, I'm kind of a noob when it comes to physics so I just have to ask. Me and my friends are kind of in a pickle, so here it goes: IF you run around a tree at the speed of light, thus bending time (correct me if I'm wrong) is it possible to touch yourself in the back?
  2. K

    Does a car battery charge and deplete at the same time while running?

    Homework Statement Obviously I do not believe this to be the case, but when running a car the battery is I assume having current drawn in, reversing its normal means of depletion so that the potential chemical reaction can take place later on. My question is when you turn on the radio while...
  3. A

    Mathematica Mathematica NDSolve Running Infinitely

    I'm trying to use Mathematica to solve a system of equations based on coordinate transformations and Lagrangian mechanics. The code follows here. However, when the system of equations is run, Mathematica never reaches an answer nor does it give an error, it simply runs infinitely. This is for a...
  4. V

    Measuring a Rod in a Running Train: Why?

    Can anyone tell me what will happen to a length og a rod if it is measured in a running train and why?
  5. A

    Renormalization and running coupling constant

    Hi everyone, even if I continue reading books about renormalization, I have the same basic doubts. So we have radiative corrections that give infinites etc.. So what we do is regularize and renormalize the theory. What is left at the end? Is it true that loops are no longer there since the...
  6. K

    Running a car on gasoline and hydrogen - the Volvo 740

    Now this is not a new idea. I had a thought about running my car on both hydrogen and gasoline. I bought a cheap car with an engine of good quality. Volvo 740. Mass-produced junk in other words. I thought that if I built a vessel on the engine manifold. The vessel to contain water and it will...
  7. Y

    Mathematica Running simultaneous computation in mathematica

    hi when i run a heavy computation on mathematica in the same time even if i want to calculate 2+2 , mathematica does not calculate it until calculating of heavy computation finishes. why? another problem is that when i do a heavy computation and obtain results , after closing mathematica...
  8. D

    Help Getting the Tonry model of Peculiar velocity field running in python

    I am attempting to translate the model of peculiar velocity flow given by Tonry et al (1999) from fortran into python, the language we use on my course, however I am experiencing difficulties in getting the thing to run. I have attached the original fortran (sbf2flow) and my attempt at...
  9. V

    Running in Space: Can You Accelerate?

    Silly question here with a long back story, but basically: how fast can you accelerate by running in space? A few very naive assumptions: You have a cross sectional area of about 1/3 m^2, and the density of space is about 5 protons/m^3, so you have a mean free path of about half a meter, or your...
  10. Tungamirai

    African Running: Why Are People of African Decent Good?

    why are people of African decent good at running long and short distances?
  11. M

    Python loops with running total

    I have a homework problem that I can't figure out, can someone help --Create a function called sums that will prompt the user to enter integer values (either positive or negative). The function should keep separate running totals of the positive values and the negative values. The user should...
  12. T

    Fortran How to Execute an Nbody Simulation in Fortran Without Prior Experience?

    Hi! I've never done any programming in fortran and got stuck trying to test run a program. Note that I am not learning how to program in fortran, this is for an astrophysics course. Basically what I need is an instruction how to run a fortran code if I have some .f files and .o files as well...
  13. R

    Will running during rainfall makes you more wet?

    (sorry for the typo in the title) I have heard both yes and no when it comes to this. But now it's time to ask you guys who probably really can put this to test. Certain factors is probably like the angle of the falling rain relative to your motion, right? And the volume per cubic meter of...
  14. A

    Running time of an algorithm

    Homework Statement Suppose I have n activicties and I want to join them as much as possible without time crash. We are provided the following algorithm. (1)Consider events in increasing order of finish time (2)Start with the first event on the sorted list (3)Include an event if it is...
  15. lisab

    News Palin Is Out Of The Running

    Sarah Palin has announced she's not running for president. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/05/palin-says-shes-not-running/?hp (Wasn't sure this was appropriate for its own thread, but it didn't seem to fit anywhere else.)
  16. S

    Finding total time of a running rabbit

    Homework Statement A rabbit runs in a straight line with a velocity of +1.5 m/s for a period of time, rests for 10s, and then runs again along the same line at +0.60 m/s for an unknown amount of time. The rabbit travels a total distance of 1200 m, and its average speed is 0.80 m/s. (a) What is...
  17. C

    Power involved in running upstairs

    Homework Statement A 65 kg student jogs upstairs from the first floor to the sixth, a vertical distance of 17.6 m, in 65 s. Find the power the student expends working against gravity (In kW.) Homework Equations F=m*A W=F*d P=W/t The Attempt at a Solution Tried solving here but...
  18. S

    Non-productive work while running

    Many runners twist in their upper body while they run. You can see this by watching the logo on their tee-shirt move sideways. You can also see it when their arms cross in front of their body instead of moving straight forward and back. We have found that runners do this because of tightness...
  19. M

    Electric Field lines running high to low voltage

    Homework Statement Show from the given equation Vb -Va=-intergral a to b (E x ds) that the electric field lines run from higher voltages to lower voltages. Also show from this equation that the electric field lines are perpendicular to equipotential lines. The voltage in our experiment ran...
  20. M

    Speed and acceleration - running for the bus

    Homework Statement A bus goes from the bus stop with the acceleration 0.75 m/s^2. A girl runs after the bus. She has the speed 8.0 m/s, and she was 17.5 m behind the bus as it started. a) How long time does it take the girl to catch up with the bus?Homework Equations THe equations for...
  21. T

    Is running at a normal speed but quietly better for my bones?

    I've been trying this out to distract people less. Yesterday I took it to a treadmill. It was nearly silent compared to the thuds I'm used to hearing with each footstep. At first I found it easiest to achieve this effect by stepping pretty much only with the balls of my feet. Then I found that I...
  22. pairofstrings

    Do modern computers have compilers running in the background?

    I want to know if there is any compiler running in the background when I open applications such as MS office or calculator. Also, if there is any compiler running when I save any office documents or open web browser and start browsing. I get this doubt because I believe that all that is...
  23. K

    News Is Palin Considering Running for President in 2012?

    Recently I was browsing the interwebs, and I got a pop-up that was a simple quiz: all it asked was "Will you vote for Sarah Palin if she runs for president in 2012?". Have there been any rumors about this.
  24. B

    Entropy of running water around a resistor

    Homework Statement An electric current of 10A runs for 1 minute through a 20 ohm Resistor which is maintained at 10 degC by being immersed in running water. What are the entropy changes in a) the resistor b) the running water c) the universe Homework Equations P = I2R dS = dQ/T...
  25. H

    Horizontal Distance For Guy Landing onto a running horse

    Homework Statement The man is 3m high from the saddle on a tree limb. The horse is running at 10m/s. A) What is the horizontal distance necessary for the men to land on the horse B) How long is he in the air Homework Equations I used y/accel to get the amount of time for him...
  26. R

    Consequences of running a 60 Hz instrument on 50 Hz

    I intend to purchase an Alternating Pressure mattress from US which runs on 120 V, 60 Hz & 1 Amp.The problem is I would be using this in a country which has a 220 V ,50 Hz supply. I understand that if I use a converter it's only going to convert the voltage from 220 V to 120 Volts but will...
  27. M

    Medical Is barefoot running healthier?

    Hey, I have been looking at buying the new five finger shoes to run in for my HS cross country team and I'm not sure of the benefits so please comment.
  28. R

    Can Pedestal Fans be Used as Generators for Electric Braking?

    The textbooks say that motors and generators are the same structurally, they just differ in what is input (motion / voltage) and what is output (voltage / motion). I have also read that electric trains use this phenomenon for their 'electric braking', by running their motors as generators by...
  29. B

    Treadmill vs Free Running: Which is Better for Your Health?

    Hi, guys. I'm currently debating the value of treadmills on a health forum. It seems to me that once a treadmill is at speed, running on it will be (disregarding windfriction and an inability to turn, ever), basically the same mechanic as running over a flat "ground," with the same relative...
  30. H

    Problem running 220volt motor on local electricity supply

    The local electric supply in our country is 415 volts. Our company recently imported plant and machinery. All the motors and electric panels that have been imported are on 220/110 volts specifications. The total load of the motors is 110 Kw. The motors are now tripping as soon as they are...
  31. P

    Body Heat and Energy Conversion During Running: Fact or Fiction?

    Hi, When we run, our body temperature increases because as we convert the chemical energy from the food in our muscles into mechanical energy, some of it is lost as heat, increasing the internal energy of the molecules and, hence, the temperature? Is everything I said correct? Thanks...
  32. 1

    Merry-go-round at rest, inertia, kid running on it problem.

    Homework Statement a 45kg child runs with a speed of 3.50m/s tangential to the rim of a stationary merry-go-round that has a momentum of inertia of 555 kg m^2, and a radius of 2.45m. when the child jumps off, the entire system begins to rotate. what is the angular speed of the system...
  33. P

    What sense(s) does a person use to tell how fast he is running?

    I know this isn't really a physics-focused question, but this is still the best science forum that I know of.
  34. D

    What exactly is d c motor running on no-load?

    hey, can someone please explain what exactly is d c motor running on no-load?
  35. H

    Can an engineer find success in a mathematics or physics PhD program?

    Last year I received my BSc in Electrical Engineering (Control Theory and Electronics Dept.) and enrolled in MSc program at the same institution (hopefully I will receive the MSc degree next summer). Now, I really don't see myself as an engineer, that is why I want to pursue a PhD program in...
  36. F

    Asynchronous generator running off grid on capacitor bank

    can anyone tell me if it is possible to run a asynchronous generator from a capacitor bank and what it may entail.
  37. L

    Very simple C program ( running total)

    Very simple C program ( running total) [solved] Homework Statement Question is: Given that two int variables, total and amount , have been declared, write a sequence of statements that: initializes total to 0 reads three values into amount , one at a time. After each value is read...
  38. N

    MATLAB How Can I Automate Input for an MRWE Application in MATLAB?

    I have already referred to this posting: http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/newsreader/view_thread/241352 so I know the basics of running an executable from Matlab and inputing a file for it to run. My problem is that because of the way my executable was written, I can only run the...
  39. D

    C/C++ What is so special about running a c++ program through commnd line?

    I.e., what is beneficial about main(int argc,char *argv[])? I see a lot of seemingly good programmers write the main like this, but what does it do that int main() cannot do?
  40. T

    Comparing Energy Expenditure: Treadmill vs Outdoor Running

    Hi, this is may be trivial but i am confused anyway, i want to ask about the force we exert or calorie we spend on a treadmil is same with outside running. I mean in treadmill the running belt somehow propels us? By the way i neglect the surface effect of the treadmill.
  41. M

    Running LED lights from 110 cord

    It will be obvious that I am not a certified Electrical Engineer. I am trying to create a small display and using LED lights to "accent" the display. I was wanting to use 6 to 9 LEDs in a circular fashion. What I am not certain of is: Can I run 6 - 9 LED's just by using a power cord and...
  42. E

    Running coupling of the weak interactions

    Can someone point me to a reference that explains how the (effective) running coupling behaves in the weak interactions(at 1-loop order). I couldn't find it... If I understand correctly, than the coupling is g = \frac{e}{sin(\theta_W)} where e is the QED coupling, which increases with energy...
  43. Y

    Can Gravity Propel Runners Forward?

    I am a competitive runner, who spends too much time on the Runner's World forums. From time to time questions arise involving the biomechanics of running, and the runners start debating running for and the effect gravity has on running. Specifically advocates of the POSE Running Method suggest...
  44. M

    Velocity and acceleration on a running track

    Homework Statement A runner runs with a constant speed around the track. 1. At which point is the runner's velocity the largest? Explain. 2. At which point is the runner's acceleration the largest? Explain Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution It seems to me...
  45. B

    Differential Equation - Path of Dog Chasing a Rabbit running in a curved path

    Homework Statement A rabbit starts at the origin and runs at speed a along the right branch of the parabola y = x2. At the same moment, a dog starts at the point (c,0) and runs at speed b directly towards the rabbit. Write a differential equation for the path of the dog. Homework...
  46. S

    Slowly walking in the rain or running fast?

    Who will get more wet? The one who is slowly walking in the rain or the who is running fast? What is the physics behind it? Thanks in well advance
  47. J

    Big Bang Cosmology: Running Hot and Cold

    Any literature on the big bang usually describes the initial moments as hot and dense. The laws of thermodynamics point to a universe where entropy is increasing, so given the assumption the universe is a thermodynamically isolated system, this implies a low entropy big bang. given that minimum...
  48. S

    How Much Work and Force Are Involved in Marathon Running?

    I train runners to run more efficiently, in part by reducing their vertical oscillation (bounce), but I don't know how to figure out how much work they do during a marathon based on the size of their oscillation and their weight. I also want to be able to tell them how much falling force they...
  49. M

    US running out of places to store money

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10783019 Personally I would have no problems being sent $ coins in large quantities, and I'm not even very bothered about which president was on them.
  50. A

    ISIS image subtraction program; trouble running

    Hi, I'm a bit new to the forums, this is my first post in fact, but I didn't know where else to go for help on this kind of matter. I'm not sure if anyone here has used ISIS image subtraction program written by Alard, available online at http://www2.iap.fr/users/alard/package.html, but I'm...
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