John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 2010 1

Chapter 6: The biomechanics of human movement

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Summary quiz
Using the words below, complete the following statements by filling in the blanks.

absorb
angular
biomechanical
buoyant
centre
density
displaced
distance
distribution
drag
fluid
force
gravity
greater
injury
less
lift
line
linear
motion
movement
opposes
profile
rapidly
science
short
spinning
support
surface
third
time
velocity
wet
wide


1. Biomechanics is a science concerned with forces and the effect of these forces on
the human body. A knowledge of biomechanics helps us choose appropriate
equipment, improve technique and reduce the risk of injury.
2. Motion is the movement of a body from one position to another.
3. There are three types of motion linear, angular and general.
4. Velocity is equal to displacement divided by time. It is useful when calculating how
quickly people or objects travel when their path is irregular (cross-country runner) or
curved (javelin thrower).
5. Speed is equal to the distance covered divided by the time taken.
6. Acceleration is the rate at which changes in a given amount of time. It is very
important in short distance events.
7. Momentum is the quantity of force a body possesses. It is most apparent in collision
situations. When this happens, momentum continues in the direction of the body with
the mass (as long as other factors are equal).
8. Momentum can be (in a straight line) or angular (moving around a point).
Angular momentum can be seen in most activities, particularly when we use
equipment such as sticks, bats and clubs.
9. The centre of gravity of an object is the point about which all the weight is evenly
distributed. In humans it is located approximately at waist height and in the middle
between the front and back of the trunk.
10. Knowledge of the location of the centre of gravity has important implications for
sporting events such as high jump.
Chapter 6: The biomechanics of human movement
John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 2010 2
11. The line of gravity is an imaginary vertical line passing through the centre of gravity
and extending to the ground.
12. The base of support refers to an imaginary line that surrounds the outside of the body
when it is in contact with a surface. We improve balance by using a base of
support. It becomes increasingly difficult to balance as we narrow the base of
support.
13. Fluid mechanics is a branch of mechanics concerned with properties of gases and
liquids.
14. Our body floats when the forces created by its weight are matched equally or better
by the drag force of the water.
15. Body desnity, or its mass per unit volume, impacts on the ability to float. A body or
object floats if its density is lless. than that of the fluid.
16. The weight and distriubtion of organs and tissues throughout the body influences
flotation and the way the body floats (or sinks).
17. The centre of buoyancy is the centre of gravity of a volume of water displaced by an
object when it is immersed in that water.
18. Drag is the force that oposes the forward motion of a body or object, reducing its
speed or velocity.
19. Lift is the component of a force that acts at right angles to the drag.
20. The amount of force is influenced by fluid density, object shape (bulky or
streamlined), surface smoothness and size of the frontal area.
21. drag or skin friction refers to a thin film of the fluid medium sticking to the
surface area of the body or object through which it is moving.
22. drag (also called form or pressure drag) refers to drag created by the shape
and size of a body or object.
23. The Magnus effect explains why spinning objects such as cricket and tennis balls
deviate in the air from a normal flight path.
24. A force is the push or pull acting on a body. The body applies force in movements
such as running and jumping. These applied forces are met equally by reaction
forces. The concept of applied and reaction forces is explained by Newtons 3rd law.
25. Power is the application of force applied rapidly. Power is important to most activities,
usually of short duration, such as jumping, starting in athletics and throwing.
26. In both landing and ball-catching situations, forces can cause pain and sometimes
injury. A knowledge of principles helps us learn to these forces
effectively.
27. The mass of commonly used sporting objects, such as soccer balls, can vary within a
game if they become . The current mass of the object determines the amount of
force that needs to be applied to gain the desired result.