VCE PE Unit 3 Biomechanical principles

What is the study of the mechanical principles that govern human movement?

• Kinetics

• Kinematics

• Biomechanics

• Physiology

Motion:

• Refers to the change in position of a body in relation to time.

• Can be Linear (in a straight line or curved path)

• Can be angular (a body rotates around an axis)

Mass:

• Describes the quantity of matter found within a particular body.

• Is the same as weight

• Of a body is the same on Earth as it is on the Moon

• Is not related to the affect of gravity

Weight:

• Is the force generated by a body with mass due to gravity.

• Of a person on Earth would be different than their weight on the moon.

• Is the same thing as mass.

Inertia:

• Is the resistance of a body to change in its state of motion.

• Is apparent at rest and when moving.

• Means that a heavy rugby player will be hard to tackle legally if running quickly

• Is exactly the same as momentum.

Force:

• Can have either a pushing or pulling effect on a body with mass.

• Can accelerate, decelerate or change direction of an object

• Is the product of mass and acceleration

• Is measured in Newtons (N).

Momentum:

• Is a combination of mass and velocity (Multiplied).

• Describes the quantity of motion a particular body of mass has.

• Exists only when an object is moving.

• Is spelled the same backwards.

Conservation of momentum means that:

• The momentum of two objects before and after a collision are equal.

• Momentum can be transferred from one body to another.

• A tennis ball will fly off, if dropped together on a basketball

Force summation:

• Is the correct timing of body segments and muscles through a range of motion.

• Helps to generate maximal force to propel objects as far as possible.

• Can occur simultaneously eg long jump take off

• Can occur sequentially eg golf swing

Force summation involves:

• Activating the stronger and larger muscles first - so momentum can be transferred.

• Using as many body parts as possible, over a greater time.

• Transferring momentum when each body part is at maximum velocity.

• The use of a stable base and appropriate follow through.