Question

While evaluating the timing of pitches, the researchers noticed a couple of high-performing athletes who were able to generate higher velocities by increasing the length of their acceleration phase. How did the power production for these athletes compare to those originally mentioned?

A. These high-performing athletes had an increased power output due to the higher velocities.

B. These high-performing athletes had a decreased power output due to the increased time spent in the acceleration phase.

C. These high-performing athletes had an increased power output due to the increased time spent in the acceleration phase.

D. There may have been no change in power output between the two groups.

**GREAT Math question

Answer 1

High-performing athletes with increased acceleration phases likely have higher power outputs due to the greater work done at higher velocities, making Answer A correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of athletes performing sprints or jumps, power output refers to the rate of doing work or the rate of energy transfer. For high-performing athletes able to generate higher velocities by increasing the length of their acceleration phase, we can typically expect that power production would be increased. This is because power is a product of force and velocity. While a longer acceleration phase might seem to suggest a decreased power output due to the increased time, it's actually the velocity that plays a critical role in determining power. Since velocity is higher, the work done is also higher over the duration of the movement, meaning the power output is also higher. Therefore, the correct answer is A: These high-performing athletes had an increased power output due to the higher velocities.