“The Fastest Man Alive” – but how?
Keywords:
Comic, Biology, Physics, Biomechanics, Neurophysiology, Mechanics, Superhero, The FlashAbstract
Although the Flash is considered the fastest man alive, the nature of his speed is poorly understood. This paper explores the biomechanics and neurophysiology of the Flash’s speed during a 100 m sprint. The results show that the Flash must apply 13.9 MN of force in a single step from his starting position in order to accelerate to his maximum velocity of 4472.44 ms-1 in a 100 m dash. Moreover, exerting such forces requires a substantially high nerve conduction velocity, which can be achieved by increasing myelin thickness and axon diameter. Future studies should quantify this conduction velocity, as well as its accompanying myelin thickness and axon diameter.
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