Photo finish

A photo finish occurs in a sporting race, when two (or more) competitors cross the finishing line at near the same time. As the naked eye may not be able to discriminate between which of the competitors crossed the line first, a strip photo, a series of rapidly triggered photographs, or a video taken at the finish line may be used for a more accurate check. Nowadays, the photographs may be digital but usually involve special equipment. They may be triggered by a laser or photovoltaic means.

Athletics

In athletics, races have to be timed accurately to hundredths (or even thousandths) of a second. A battery of electronic devices are installed in high-profile events (such as the Olympic Games to ensure that the right timings are given swiftly both to the public and the officials.

Related Topics:
Thousandths - Second - Olympic Games

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At the finish line, photocells and digital cameras are used to establish the placings. Sometimes, in a race as fast as the 100m sprint, all 8 athletes can be separated by less than one second. It is not uncommon for 2 athletes to have the exactly same time recorded.

Related Topics:
Photocell - Digital camera - 100m

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