biomechanical principles Flashcards
What is Newton’s first law?
law of inertia stating that a body continues in state of constant motion unless an external force is exerted on it
What is Newton’s second law?
law of acceleration stating acceleration is proportional to the size and direction of the force applied
What is Newton’s third law?
the law of action/reaction which states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction force
What three factors can alter friction?
surface characteristics of the two bodies in contact, temperature of the two surfaces and the mass of the sliding object
What does air resistance depend on?
- the velocity of the moving object
- the cross sectional area
- the shape and surface characteristics of the moving body
What is the centre of mass?
the point of balance in a body
What are the factors affecting stability?
- height of centre of mass
- position of the line of gravity
- area of the support base
- the mass of the performer
How can you alter the position of the line the gravity in order to increase stability?
line of gravity should be central over the base of support
How is a mechanical advantage created and which type of lever does this occur in?
force arm is longer than load arm. occurs in a second class lever at ankle (plantar flexion)
What is the use of limb kinematics?
using computer software to analyse angle and motion of joints and limbs to optimise the efficiency of movement patterns
What are force plates?
a rectangular metal plate that is used to measure the magnitude of ground reaction forces
What is the use of wind tunnels?
to measure the forces produced by air against a body’s surface in order to optimise aerodynamic efficiency
How do force plates help to optimise performance?
helps to improve posture during running and balance
