WEEK 11 (Biomechanics)

Question 1

What is biomechanics?

Answer 1

The study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms

Question 2

What does biomechanics start and end with?

Answer 2

Biomechanics starts from MUSCLE CONTRACTION and ends with FULL SCALE, WHOLE BODY MOTIONS of organisms

Question 3

What is contemporary biomechanics?

Answer 3

A multidisciplinary field that combines physical and engineering expertise with knowledge from the biological and medical sciences

Question 4

When did research in biomechanics become more widely known?

Answer 4

In the 20th century

Question 5

What are the specialty areas in biomechanics?

Answer 5

• CARDIOVASCULAR BIOMECHANICS
• CELL BIOMECHANICS
• HUMAN MOVEMENT BIOMECHANICS
• OCCUPATIONAL BIOMECHANICS
• SPORT BIOMECHANICS

Question 6

What is cell biomechanics?

Answer 6

Focuses on the mechanical properties and behaviour of living cells and how it relates to cell function

Question 7

What is occupational biomechanics?

Answer 7

Biomechanics analysis is used to understand and optimise mechanical interaction of workers with the environment

Question 8

What is sport biomechanics?

Answer 8

Deals with performance improvement and injury prevention in athletes

Question 9

What are the applications of biomechanics?

Answer 9

• Design of implantable artificial prostheses
• Engineering of living tissues
• Injury prevention related to vehicle accidents

Question 10

What are the four elements of biomechanics?

Answer 10

• Dynamics
• Kinematics
• Kinetics
• Statics

Question 11

Describe Dynamics in biomechanics

Answer 11

Studying systems that are in motion with ACCELERATION and DECELERATION

Question 12

Describe Kinematics in biomechanics

Answer 12

Describing the effect of forces on a system, motion patterns including LINEAR and ANGULAR changes in VELOCITY over time as well as POSITION, DISPLACEMENT, VELOCITY and ACCELERATION are studied

Question 13

Describe Kinetics in biomechanics

Answer 13

Studying what causes motion, the forces and moments at work

Question 14

Describe statics in biomechanics

Answer 14

Studying systems that are in equilibrium, either at rest or moving at a constant velocity

Question 15

Describe the centre of gravity of an erect person with arms at the side

Answer 15

The centre of gravity of an erect person with arms at the side is at approximately 56% of the person’s height measured from the soles of the feet

Question 16

Describe the reaction force in a stable object

Answer 16

The reaction force at the base of support CANCELS the force of gravity and the torque produced by it

Question 17

Describe the reaction force in an unstable object

Answer 17

If the centre of mass is OUTSIDE the base, the torque produced by the weight tend to topple the body

Question 18

Maximum force muscle can apply is proportional to what?

Answer 18

To the muscle cross section

Question 19

What is the mechanical advantage of a lever and the equation for it?

Answer 19

The mechanical advantage of a lever is the RATIO of the load the lever overcomes and the effort a person or system applies to the lever to overcome some load or resistance

Load x Resistance Arm = Effort x Effort Arm