An athlete uses physics to shatter world records - Asaf Bar-Yosef

View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/an-athlete-...
When Dick Fosbury couldn't compete against the skilled high jumpers at his college, he tried jumping in a different way -- backwards. Fosbury improved his record immediately and continued to amaze the world with his new technique all the way to Olympic gold. Asaf Bar-Yosef explains the physics behind the success of the now dominant Fosbury Flop.
Lesson by Asaf Bar-Yosef, animation by NEIGHBOR.

[@Ineddiblehulk]

Character design and animation on this clip was great!

[@HappyDragneels_page]

they look like the dudes on trophies

[@juma21347]

I was about to comment the opposite. The animation of the dude is very robotic, doesnt flow and doesnt look natural. And I mean the 3D part, the rest of the design is pretty cool.

[@renderize69]

It's actually rigging

[@thethirdman225]

Too bad the information is either invented or wrong.

[@Commentationation]

What if they named the flop after his first name.

[@zekel.2083]

that would be wierd

[@Dronebertios_World]

That is some quality commenting.

[@zekel.2083]

panks

[@lewisyuu]

Commentation "What technique do you use?" "The 'Dick' Flop, why?"

[@vietthangho9262]

"Everybody do the flop!"

[@mraccident]

That certainly raised the bar for my knowledge.

[@justrusty]

I remember my father claiming that the high jump had become one of just brute strength and no technique because he didn't understand that the flop is actually the exact opposite of brute strength. He was a reasonable man, but quite a bit older than me, and by the time I had figured out basically what is shown in these graphics, he was long gone. Too bad, he would have enjoyed learning this.

[@live2walk]

one minor detail - he first did his technique in high school, kind of by accident or desperation. The first time, it was pretty much unplanned - he was trying to do a scissors jump, but keep his hips up... and it just sort-of happened. A few others had jumped this way as well, but each developed it independently, and Fosbury was the most successful at it.

[@MadUncle9]

How the hell did I get here? I have an English essay due tomorrow and here I am learning about Olympic changing sport manoeuvres.

[@sunnyt4493]

We've all been there , lol

[@benjaminyork690]

I was literally just thinking the same thing when I saw this XD

[@KillianDefaoite]

I'm not even lying to you when I say I am in the exact same situation. English essay due tomorrow and what do I do? Watch a video about high jumping.

[@idprefertonotparticipate]

Sunny T my pe teacher sent me here...

[@SolveGr]

How did the essay go?

[@Prelude610]

Which came first, the flop or the physics? Did Fosbury work out the physics first then try the jump, or did he just come up with a crazy jump and only afterwards people worked out the physics?

[@gabbonoo]

after the physics

[@sbonel3224]

I'm pretty sure Einstein turned in his grave when physics of such level was conducted.

[@Moral1tyCor3]

Somnu Bonel Then he should be spinning like a wheel 24/7 given the amount of such physics conducted in schools.

[@coolpeople4061]

Lol dummy

[@nykidxxx]

Moral1tyCor3 - So what you're really saying is that we've found a new source of renewable energy! :D

[@SAsgarters]

Physics, eh? I always thought athletes used chemistry to shatter world records.

[@reisanibal1]

good one :)

[@elliottmcollins]

Chemistry is just an interesting application of electromagnetism.

[@johndon820]

Elliott Collins Don't say you're a believer of homeopathic medicine.

[@elliottmcollins]

John Don Haha, what? How did you connect that with homeopathy?

[@elliottmcollins]

No, just to the fact that Chemistry is the study of chemical bonds, which are rooted in the physics of electromagnetism.

[@edeworabraham2761]

The voice, animation and soundtrack *chef kiss* THAT SOUNDTRACK THOUGH

[@jeremyshaferorigami]

I like that flop a lot more than the kind in basketball!

[@jdadaiii]

Jeremy!!!

[@leonardobonucci2043]

More like soccer

[@DeepFreeze172]

Why are the characters made of butter?

[@mr.commenter1242]

So that he can bend his back further XD

[@SaidurRahmanSajal]

How high are you?

[@csar07.]

It’s realistic. How else do you think they slip over the bar?

[@jtiumproductions7629]

oh god the puns no insert pun here (i'm not creative enough to think of one)

[@hiennguythianh2396]

*when you really want to become an athlete, but your parents tells you to become a Physicists*

[@RRaquello]

As to why they didn't name it after his first name, we turn to literature rather than physics. They obviously call it the "Fosbury Flop" because whoever came up with the term was aiming for artistic alliteration, both words beginning with "F". If they named it after his first name "Dick" they wouldn't have called it the "Dick Flop" because it's not alliterative. They might have called it the "Dick Dive". Luckily he had both a first name and last name that could be used alliteratively in his particular sporting event. If his name had been "Jones" they would have called it the "Jones Jump". But if his name had been "Smith" they might not have been able to come up with any such catchy name.

[@diegoci2179]

The smith spring

[@gillasosaurus]

+RRaquello They missed a big opportunity with the dick flop

[@WizardOfBallzGaming]

+RRaquello Dick Leap

[@HarisEka]

smith spring

[@jasonpanusopone6250]

How about the "Smith Swoop"?

[@FilzSkillz]

Luckily they didn't name the flop after his first name...

[@PelegTsadok]

The Dick Flop...

[@liskers]

But that would've been fucking hilarious.

[@gordonwaldner9792]

He now goes by Richard.

[@pcljet]

An excellent video. It definitely put some new insight on center-of-mass for me and has started to make me think about other measures of mass distribution in a body. But it is also nice to see the historical events from this perspective. Great work!

[@iamstoned4life]

MIND BLOWN i can now make a donut levitate by holding my finger under its hole (the center of mass). Fizyks rules!

[@PS-du2dq]

Nice to hear about it after ages! It's a part of my father's stories from the years before I was borne. Good thing to keep it alive!

[@guesswhoami4723]

That pun at the end tho 👌

[@rakketakke]

Well done animation. Made it a lot more clear.

[@xavierdizon3776]

"only great leap forward that is also a great leap backward" the humor haha

[@username55ify]

The title sounds like an Onion article.

[@thethirdman225]

For all the information in it, it might as well be. The creator knows nothing about the high jump or why Fosbury did what he did.

[@JloBroOFFICIAL]

Press 1 and 4 simultaneously to hear techno.

[@JloBroOFFICIAL]

if you press numbers on your keyboard after clicking the youtube video it might work. on every youtube video different numbers cue the time selector to different parts of the video.

[@JloBroOFFICIAL]

You're right lol

[@Vulppix]

+James Logan, lol

[@zenthaa]

Use 7

[@tyqwe45qe]

why.

[@marinamarquez1018]

That pun at the end got me

[@GROENAASMusic]

Miroslaw Graf, first man to ski jump V-style also used physics to improve his distance in ski jumping. Before that, people didn't ski jump the way ski jumpers do today.

[@kindnessfirst9670]

It still took him four years to win over his own coaches who required him to continue to practice the old style of jumping- but allowed him to compete in his own new "flop" style. Five years after failing as a 16 year old to jump the minimum 5 feet to enter a high school meet he won the Olympic gold medal and completely changed the event forever. Bizarre to think that you can jump over a bar wile keeping your body's center of gravity below it. And it was a 16 year old that realized it.

[@FriendofWigner]

"...the center of mass is below your belly, a place where there is no mass at all." If that were only the case :'(

[@chimericalical]

Fosbury is my hero because he knew he wasn't strong enough or fast enough to win so he invented a new way to play. He won using Science... but I mean, he never won again after that cause everyone's like "uh... so, if this dude who's not as strong, fast, or tall as us is beating us maybe we should just try his technique."

[@pablotorres6997]

Wow, great explanation of a no so evident concept. Great graphics.

[@axlegrind4212]

imagine if michael jordon approached the bar like he flew in to dunk, only he turned over in midair and cleared it by a foot.

[@MichikoKohata]

My high school physics teacher told me about this!! Still remember it 20 years later.

[@supersaiyan3693]

Now it's 27 years.......

[@BenTheMagnifice]

Amazing. Great animation, great narration, great concept! This is why I'm subbed to TED!

[@thethirdman225]

Pity it’s mostly wrong.

[@Timmimini]

Great video! He changed the whole spot! Amazing!

[@joetyson3675]

Thank you for the video. It was exactly what I was looking for.

[@hemanth3931]

Ok... imagine the expression of audience in that event...what the f was that😂

[@Teeleer]

im surprised this hasnt become a movie yet.

[@gordontang9640]

fascinating episode

[@LucidDreamer54321]

All athletes use physics when participating in their sport. Without physics, they wouldn't be able to do anything.

[@GraeHall]

This is one of my favourite examples of surprising sports-physics. I remember so clearly the first time the penny dropped - when it was explained that the centre of mass went under the bar while the athlete went over.

[@thethirdman225]

Not necessarily. This has been massively overstated. The most important work - at least 90% - is done on the ground.

[@Scam_Likely.]

This is one of the coolest things you've posted

[@dubbydub9245]

You just watched a three and a half minute pun. Thanks dad.

[@YTBKd]

Never thought such minimalistic animation would create such awesome effect.. 😍

[@thethirdman225]

Pity it’s mostly wrong.

[@muhibarfin]

Mah man literally raised the bar for the then next athletes to come.

[@aircraftcarrier6789]

That pun at the end though

[@gavinhefferon]

Such a great job of explaining it :) great script

[@joec3753]

It was a "successful flop". Sorry, I'm a sucker for oxymoron.

[@royzhu5735]

What a moron.

[@juliashireen6195]

Thank you for saying that. The use of the meaning FLOP to mean something neutral has gotten into a more negative one, so Fosbury Fly is better, duncha think? XD

[@harihariswarshiv2143]

It is hook

[@alrighter2051]

Joe C an oxymoronic onomatopoeia

[@RandomGuy-bf8wq]

I feel sorry for the people who don't know what an oxymoron is...

[@samanthabrewster1314]

EVERYBODY DO THE FLOP!

[@liskers]

That meme was funny 2 years ago.

[@rossyquexn.4313]

I need to look this for me gym lessons 👌🏾👌🏾

[@horanstreet]

Thank you for this information.

[@ernestkhalimov9574]

"he amazed the world" shows him in a empty stadium

[@thexinventor47]

Everybody do the (Fosbury) flop!

[@kostyapesterew1068]

i love trains

[@hadinossanosam4459]

Yes, you do.

[@meltingEyeballs]

Breaking a new record in sports but breaking your back in real life. :)

[@PelegTsadok]

Sport...

[@edgarinv]

... jumping over the obstacle!

[@websnarf]

I think one of the points of the Fosbury flop is being missed here. This is also one of the first examples of "hacking the rules" of an open competition.

[@thethirdman225]

Paul Hsieh How so?

[@dimitriosyourastrologer2630]

In Fosbury flop the athlete passes over the bar with the back downwards, and as he arches his back the center of mass passes below the bar. Why the athlete doesn't pass the bar with the stomach downwards, and by bending over at the top of his trajectory, the center of mass will pass again below the bar. Besides the athlete can run vertically to the bar and use all the momentum to jump higher.

[@HienNguyenHMN]

The animation looks awesome. Also: the pun at the end. LoL

[@DarkSideofOZ]

That pun was uncalled for.

[@p1zza_party_156]

ur intro is like a morning alarm ngl like the feeling that u get when u hear it

[@sobiraismail6637]

There is a music video called "Broken Arrows" that's roughly, but not entirely based off this.

[@Rushmore222]

Fosbury used physics paired with incredible body control.

[@ktursts4088]

last line 👌

[@fatcat1840]

The only flop that isnt a flop but rather a great success

[@hiwayM9]

A great example for elementary school teachers that will inevitably get those young students who won't see how math is applicable to any pursuit in life and require a model to comprehend it's specific use.

[@dhrubomasud3212]

Flossberry prolly was like I’m tryna win bruh

[@RSPikachuAlpha]

The last sentence was beautiful

[@phyiorme2522]

the music made me think i can jump a 2.24m bar

[@interlinkknight]

I get the explanation. But why not do the same forward? Body can bent more forward than backwards

[@Oshbotscom]

I think it has a lot to do with getting your legs to clear the bar at the end. Jumping backwards you can bring your knees up towards your chest to get your legs out of the way, but jumping forward you can't get your thighs out of the way as easily.

[@interlinkknight]

OSHbots Make sense, since they have to avoid touch the bar. Thanks

[@thethirdman225]

InterlinkKnight That was the principle behind the dive straddle, used by the great Soviet jumpers Brumel and Yashchenko. But the most important thing to remember is that bar clearance technique is a distraction. Ninety percent of the work is done on the ground. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lavHdZirYreKqrM

[@900bz]

He didnt use physics he said he accidentally did it by instinct

[@CamJames]

physics and instinct are the same in humans. it's what makes us smarter than apes

[@Chowan30]

I'm sure Fossbury thought about ALL of this.

[@brianuuuSonicReborn]

I came here because I saw a video with low res thumbnail and thought it was a meme

[@Zetsuke4]

the animation is so awesome

[@foreigneez]

Genius. This video should be renamed to "A physicist uses athletics to shatter world records."

[@thethirdman225]

Except that this was not the product of someone working it out with physics. Fosbury evolved his technique from the scissors because he was not successful with the straddle. It took five years of evolution and training to get to where he was in Mexico City in 1968. There are lots of videos on KZbin of Fosbury explaining how he arrived at his technique and they are all better than this. Furthermore, Fosbury is a civil engineer, not a physicist. Most importantly, high jumping starts with the run up and takeoff and not with bar clearance technique. Almost all the work is done on the ground and that is the most important part, despite what this video claims.

[@truthseeker7815]

@@thethirdman225, this video doesn’t claim anything

[@tullyheenan8714]

Helped a lot thx

[@chronousnemesis]

FINALLY SOME METRIC!!! For fucks sakes Ted-Ed took too long to realize this. Even when you show metric in the video yet the narrator states in imperial so it's fair. But it's even more fair if you simply put both in the video. I expect the next videos to do the same

[@virtlink]

I didn't even notice it until I read your comment. Metric comes so natural to me, and most of the world's population that is not in the US.

[@ShawnRavenfire]

It's probably only in metric because the Olympic records are kept in metric.

[@elliottmcollins]

Even the US is inching (yeah, I said it) away from the imperial system.

[@shiptech2k9]

Elliott Collins Well Americans are stubborn, if the US is inching away, then it has miles and miles more to go.

[@YoHoOMirster]

+shiptech2k9 them why not the kilometer?

[@mavila1368]

Well this is super helpful to me because I had high jump practice and I have to get my form down...

[@ADoodGuy]

If got a TED Institute ad in a TED Talk video.

[@chinmaybhalerao1712]

The script is what won it for me

[@quoggle9348]

To be completely pedantic it is keeping centre of gravity (which is not the same as the centre of mass if the gravitational field strength varies over the object) as low as possible which allows jumpers to get higher jumps.

[@bambooindark1]

very good illustration

[@kuddos]

But how did he come up with this technique?

[@leykimayri]

He couldn't jump as high as others so he was experementing. In the meantime the place where athlets land after the jump was improved and it was safe to land on the back/head/whatever which helped himtry new methods. But he wasn't the only one experimenting at the time. He was just the first to do it who caught international attention.

[@JonatasAdoM]

+Georgia Like with the airplane, interesting

[@jrjwalton]

He copied the Canadian female high jumper Debbie Brill who jumped backwards and it was called the Brill Bend.

[@kuddos]

@@jrjwalton OHH I did not know about her. It sucks when ther credit someone else. But I still wonder what was her thought process to get to this technique.

[@mr.commenter1242]

Probably in an Avicii video or something like that... idk

[@egali34]

"great leap forward but its also great leap backward" china 1958-1962: and i took that personally

[@modernmage555]

Thanos: "it's a simple calculus..."

[@chaliceb5]

Great vid...thanx for posting.

[@jimmyalvez557]

2:39 wait for it. . . Dary! Legendary!

[@srijanagrawal4591]

one of the greatest videos i have ever watched on youtube.great stuff by teded.keep it up guys!

[@victorox94]

awesome animation!

[@daedra40]

One heck of a leap forwar- uh, I mean backward :D

[@julianvanoudenaarden6573]

Tedd can u do a video with long jump plz? :) your video was very good^^

[@lveronese]

you guys are great..

[@tegarz]

Great leap upward

[@laurel8831]

I don't know how I got here but it was definitely worth it.

[@jpaysgamer8877]

I love your guys' videos so much

[@PAOLOHAON]

“Avicci - Broken Arrows” MV shows the story :)))

[@saisatik]

Very interesting one!

[@finnworld2000]

Thanks vor the video!

[@blissssssssss]

the puns in this video tho

[@Javelin22Giraffe]

Should talk about Yuri Sedych's world record hammer throw or just the hammer throw in general. There is some unbelievable physics going on there, much more than people may think.

[@johnjordan3552]

Centri _petaaall_ FOOOOOOORCEE!

[@TAWPhotography]

Great upload and God Bless.

[@terencenordberg7482]

What a perfectly constructed video. And fitting middle name 👌

[@EnterprisingOne]

Such a great video, should be sown to all young athletes in my opinion.

[@BilalAlshareef]

Amazing!!

[@kierachell.]

Now cover S.Bubka's technique.

[@paradeToday]

Very nice graphics.