analysing technologies Flashcards
what are wind tunnels ?
- chambers where artificial wind is produced
how to wind tunnels work ?
object / person stands in the tunnel while air enters s forced through
what are wind tunnels used for ?
- collecting data to measure the effect of air resistance
- optimize aerodynamic airflow around an object
- reduces drag
give an example of where wind tunnels are useful ?
- F1 drivers need clothing and cars which can be adapted to increase their aerodynamic efficiency and reduce drag / air resistance
give positives of wind tunnels ?
- help to improve aerodynamic efficiency
- reduces drag
- reduces effect of air resistance
- individual pieces of equipment can be tested
- data is objective = reliable
- reduce injury risk
- wind speed and direction can be controlled to mimic competitive conditions
give disadvantages of wind tunnels ?
- can’t move in them = doesn’t mimic competitive environment
- lacks ecological validity
- requires frequent calibration and a specialist to calibrate them
- lab based
- expensive
what is limb kinematics?
- study of movement in relation to time using motion analysis
how are limb kinematics used ?
- reflective markers are placed on bony landmarks and performance is recorded using infra red cameras -
- information is downloaded by computer
- giving record of motion in time and space in digital format
- velocity and acceleration can be calculated
- sports technique analysed
- adjusts technique and reduces the risk of injury
what is limb kinematics used for ?
assessing movement
see speed your body is moving at
identifies force of movement
improving technique
give positives of limb kinematics ?
- helps correct technique
- helps prevent injuries
- data is readily available
- accurate and reliable data
- gait analysis and movement efficiency assessed
give an example of where limb kinematics is used ?
- golf swing technique can be assessed shows where improvements can be made
give negatives of limb kinematics ?
- results don’t take individual differences into account
- done in a lab = less valid
- doesn’t mirror competition environment
- expensive
- not readily available - less practical
what are force plates ?
- rectangular metal plates that use load cells to measure forces
- platform which measures all forces
what do force plates measure ?
- force, velocity, acceleration, displacement, time
what are force plates used for ?
- gait analysis
- analysis of movement
- rehabilitation
- balance
- explosive strength
- prevents injury
give advantages of force plates?
- prevents injury
- improves sporting techniques
- helps for rehabilitation
- gives immediate accurate reliable data
- results can be used to produce development programmes
- any sport
disadvantages of force plates ?
- not available to most
- not practical
- must be calibrated often and needs a specialist to do this
- needs a specialist to interpret data
- hard to replicate some techniques, e.g high jump so less valid
how do force plates work ?
- athletes balance, run, jump on a force plates and the size and direction of the forces produced are measured
using an example how can force plates analyze gait ?
technique of marathon runner
using practical examples how are force plates used to improve performance ?
- analyze posture (back pain of rugby player )
- rehabilitation injuries ( enhance recovery of footballer
- optimize angle of take off ( improve long jumpers technique )
- prevent injury on landings
- adapt prosthesis design (enhance performance of paralympic 100 m sprinter )
