OLYMPIC GAMES IN MELBOURNE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27405, 19 July 1954, Page 7

OLYMPIC GAMES IN MELBOURNE

Effect Of Gravity Investigated (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 16. Two British scientists have reported that the earth’s surface has less gravitational pull, in Melbourne than in Helsinki and that this may affect athletic performances at the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956, compared with performances at the Helsinki Games m 1952,” the “Daily Mail” reported today. “They found there was an appreciably effective difference. On paper it is slight, amounting to only one part in 500. But if all conditions are the same—temperature, humidity, and wind—it does mean thht athletes may improve on their Helsinki records even if they make no greater physical effort, said the newspaper. The scientists, Dr. H. Barrell and Dr. J. C. Evans, of the National Physical Laboratory at Teddington, Middlesex, made the discovery when investigating the weight used by John Savidge, the British weight put record holder, in creating an apparently new record. It has been found that Savidge’s weight was half an ounce less than the stipulated 161 b. Dr. Barrell and Dr. Evans were asked to find what difference that halfounce made. The answer was 2Jin on a 56ft throw. To solve the problem the scientists worked out a complicated equation which was then used to compare the difference between the forces of gravity in Helsinki and Melbourne. They reported that on the track the difference will be so slight in theory that it will have no effect. But in high jump, discus throwing, weight putting, and javelin events a slight reduction in gravity could make the difference needed for new records. “People can do the same thing in Melbourne as they did in Helsinki using slightly less energy if all other circumstances are precisely the same,” the “Daily Mail” quoted the scientists as saying.