In the 400 meter dash runners stay in their lanes the entire distance around the track. If the runners would all start at the same line (the finish line) only the runner in lane 1 would be running 400 meters. Everyone else would be running a greater distance. To rectify this, the starting lines are staggered for each lane so that each runner, when he/she crosses the finish line, will have run only 400 meters.
If the lanes are 1 meter wide and the lane 1 runner begins at the finish line, how far ahead is the next stagger line? Note, the starting line for each lane will be that far ahead of the previous lane’s start..
Use the following diagram for needed distances. Show your work and/or explain your reasoning.
each lane is 1 meter wide i.e. the radius increases by a meter for each lane. Distance on inside circle(lane one)is 100 meters on each end of the track
1 answer
the circumference increases by 2pi meters for each extra meter of radius