I asked ChatGPT what would happen if someone could run at 60 mph
It would take 5 minutes to get a high-level overview of each condition if looked up manually. Not to mention where ChatGPT is getting its goodies from, which likely isn't an issue but I'm already into the minutiae.
If a person could run at 60 mph, several physiological and physical factors would come into play, creating a range of challenges and extraordinary conditions. Here are some considerations:
Friction and Heat
- Shoe Friction: Running at such high speeds would generate enormous friction between the shoes and the ground. Standard running shoes would likely disintegrate quickly. Specially designed, heat-resistant materials would be necessary to withstand the high temperatures.
- Heat Generation: The friction would produce a significant amount of heat, potentially causing burns or damage to the feet and legs.
These would be true, bionic or otherwise. Replace those shoes often, they don't have the same thickness as tires, LOL! (Still, the show sells its high concept premise to keep enough of your brain at the hatstand. But I'm also a fan of Space 1999, the one with the dumbest idea for a show but look beyond the premise and there's a lot of thrill to be had.)
Biomechanics
- Stride and Leg Movement: The biomechanics of running would be vastly different. At 60 mph, the stride length and frequency would need to be significantly increased. This would place enormous stress on muscles, tendons, and joints.
- Muscle Power: The muscles would need to generate an immense amount of power to propel the body forward at such speeds. This would likely require muscles far stronger and more efficient than human muscles.
For humans, yes. For bionic-augmented people, not really - the mechanics would be doing the work and there's no stress on the internal organs as such. (The Cyborg novelization indicated a new endoskeleton to keep the bionic bits in place. Something the audience would likely assume as well for the tv show.)
Aerodynamics
- Air Resistance: Air resistance increases with the square of speed, so running at 60 mph would result in substantial drag. The runner would need to adopt an aerodynamic posture to minimize resistance.
- Breathing: Breathing would become more challenging due to the high-speed air flow and increased oxygen demand by the muscles.
Bingo. Bionic or not, these would remain an issue. But we see multi-ton 18-wheelers go 65MPH with ease. The drag coefficient for braking aside, of course... Breathing especially would be an issue, regardless of biological or bionic bits.
Structural Integrity
- Bone and Joint Stress: The forces exerted on the bones and joints would be extreme, likely causing damage unless the bones were significantly strengthened (similar to the bionic enhancements in the show).
- Impact Force: The impact of each foot strike would be immense, necessitating either a vastly different running technique or enhanced structural support in the legs and feet.
Why the novelization went into more detail (from what little I recall)... that new endoskeleton would have to be pretty good.
Energy Requirements
- Caloric Intake: The energy expenditure would be extraordinarily high, requiring a much greater caloric intake to sustain such activity.
- Metabolic Rate: The metabolic rate would need to be highly efficient to provide the necessary energy quickly.
For humans, yup. For bionics, the machinery is doing the work and the biological body is just there for the ride.
Environmental Factors
- Surface Type: Running on standard surfaces like concrete or asphalt could be problematic due to the wear and tear. Specialized running tracks might be needed.
- Weather Conditions: Wind, rain, and other weather conditions would have a more pronounced effect at higher speeds, potentially posing additional hazards.
Repeated use or one-time traversal?
Also, given how heavy the bionics would be, they'd be the weight of 4 or 5 people in the same area of space. Greater density should be almost as much an issue like when Steve found that Oscar was replaced by a robot by throwing a pencil along his walking path and Robo-Oscar crushed it.
Safety Gear
- Protective Equipment: To prevent injury from falls or collisions, extensive protective gear, such as a helmet, padding, and specialized clothing, would be necessary.
- Eye Protection: Eye protection would be crucial to shield against debris and the high-speed wind.
In summary, a person running at 60 mph would face significant biomechanical, environmental, and physiological challenges. Such an ability would require extraordinary adaptations, likely involving advanced technology or biological enhancements similar to the fictional bionics in "The Six Million Dollar Man."
For Steve, the bionic eye takes care of that, but - yeah - running 60MPH would be an issue for debris and to say nothing of pebbles like when you're driving down the freeway and the vehicle that turns the corner's acceleration spews up a ton of that and dust and whaps against the windscreen, even cracking it... oh dear...
Yes this is my favorite piece of SMDM music too. It makes this scene work so much better.
He died during the production of the third season on October 28, 1975. No doubt he would have continued scoring the series if he could.
Way too young for sure. His scores for the show were exceptionally crafted. Great stuff! If I didn't like the show already, I'd tune in for the incidental music alone. Gotta look up if there's a soundtrack...
I didn't know that was the reason.
