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Biomechanics is the science concerned with the internal and external forces acting on the human body and the effects produced by these forces.
Kinematics
Kinematics is the branch of biomechanics about the study of movement with reference to the amount of time taken to carry out the activity.
Acceleration
Acceleration is defined as the rate at which velocity changes with respect to time. average acceleration = (final velocity - initial velocity) elapsed time
From Newton's 2nd law: Force = Mass x Acceleration Acceleration = Force Mass
If the mass of a sprinter is 60kg and the force exerted on the starting blocks is 600N then acceleration = 600 60 = 10 msec
Components of a vector
Figure 2 Figure 1 Let us consider the horizontal and vertical components of velocity of the shot in Figure 1. Figure 2 indicates the angle of release of the shot at 35 and the velocity at release as 12 m/sec. Vertical component Vv = 12 x sin 35 = 6.88 m/sec Horizontal component Vh = 12 x cos 35 = 9.82 m/sec
Let us now consider the distance the shot will travel horizontally (its displacement). Range (R) = ((v sin cos) + (v cos sqrt((v sin) + 2gh))) g Where v = 12, = 35, h = 2m (height of the shot above the ground at release) and g = 9.81 R = ((12 sin35 cos35) + (12 cos35 sqrt((12 sin35) + 2x9.81x2))) 9.81 R = 16.22m
The time of flight of the shot can be determined from the equation: Time of flight = Distance (R) velocity (Vh) Time of flight = 16.22 9.82 = 1.65 seconds
Angular Kinematics
Angular distance and displacement
When a rotating body moves from one position to another, the angular distance through which it moves is equal to the length of the angular path. The angular displacement that a rotating body experiences is equal to the angle between the initial and final position of the body. Angular movement is usually expressed in radians where 1 radian = 57.3
Angular Momentum
Angular momentum is defined as: angular velocity x moment of inertia The angular momentum of a system remains constant throughout a movement provided nothing outside of the system acts with a turning moment on it. This is known as the Law Conservation of Angular Momentum. (e.g. if a skater, when already spinning, moves their arms out to the side, then the rate of spin will change but the angular momentum will stay the same).
Linear Kinetics
Kinetics is concerned with what causes a body to move.
The classification of external or internal forces depends on the definition of the 'system'. In biomechanics, the body is seen as the 'system' so any force exerted by one part of the system on another part of the 'system' is known as an internal force all other forces are external.
Third Law: To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction OR for every force that is exerted by one body on another there is an equal and opposite force exerted by the second body on the first
Angular Kinetics
Translation and couple
A force that acts through the centre of a body result in movement (translation). A force whose line of action which does not pass through the body's centre of gravity is called an eccentric force and results in movement and rotation. Example - if you push through the centre of an object it will move forward in the direction of the force. if you push to one side of the object (eccentric force) it will move forward and rotate. A couple is an arrangement of two equal and opposite forces that cause a body to rotate.
Levers
A lever is a rigid structure, hinged at one point and to which forces are applied at two other points. The hinge is known as the fulcrum. The two forces forces that act on the lever are the weight that opposes movement and a force that causes movement. For more details see the page on Levers.
Bernoulli Effect
If an object has a curved top and flat bottom (e.g. the wing of an aircraft), the air will have further to travel over the top of the wing than the bottom. For the two airflows to reach the rear of the wing at the same time the air flowing over the top of the wing will have to flow faster resulting in less pressure above the wing (air is thinner) than below it and the aircraft will lift. This is known as the Bernoulli effect.
Page Reference
The reference for this page is: MACKENZIE, B. (2004) Biomechanics [WWW] Available from: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/biomechanics.htm [Accessed29/11/2011]