A level Physical Education PE 1

Biomechanics principles Karen Vaughan Jones

What do these two men have in common?

Sir Isaac Newton

Leonardo Da Vinci

History of Biomechanics
In the fifteenth century, Leonardo da Vinci wrote: Mechanical science is the noblest and above all other, the most useful, seeing that by means of it, all animated bodies which have movement perform all their actions (cited in Cross and Lyle, 2006 pg 130) However it was not until 1687 that Isaac Newton published Principia, that a full and correct understanding of the laws of motion was gained. Superseeded by Hesienberg and Einstein, Newtons laws still provides the fundamental relationships between forces and motion during everyday life.

Newtons three laws of motion

Straight line CONSTANT SPEED UNLESS ACTED ON BY A FORCE Variation of force FORCE = MASS X ACCELERATION

THE FIRST LAW OF MOTION

The first law states that: Every body continues in its state of rest, or of uniform motion in a right (straight) line unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it For example a ball will stay at rest until hit or kicked, and will keep moving in a straight line unless a force (gravity, air resistance or lift) acts upon it to curve the flight. Also known as Galileos law

THE SECOND LAW OF MOTION

The second law of motion states that: The change of motion is proportional to the motive force impressed, and is made in the direction of the right (straight) line in which that force is impressed Often translated as force = mass x acceleration For example a tennis player wishing to hit a faster serve must apply greater forces than required to hit a slow serve The force must also be in the correct direction

THE THIRD LAW OF MOTION

The third law of motion states that: For every action there is always opposed an equal reaction; or, the mutual actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal, and directed to contrary parts Must be two bodies involved, although not always in contact, forces on the bodies must be opposite in direction, but equal in size and occur at the same time Small rugby player in a collision with a larger one will experience the same force although in the opposite direction

Why is this relevant to Sport?

The science of biomechanics is the application of these mechanics to the human body and the result of these forces. Remember that forces are measured in Newtons.

Activity
1. Define the terms force, mass, velocity and acceleration and give the unit of measurement for each. 2. State Newtons First Law of Motion. 3. An ice hockey puck is struck by a player and travels across the ice to rebound from the far wall of the rink. Assuming that both the friction between puck and ice and the air resistance are negligible and that the puck travels from right to left as you look at it, sketch force diagrams to show what forces act in each of the following situations. a) While the puck is stationary before being struck. b) While the stick is in contact with the puck. c) While the puck is travelling across the ice before it hits the wall. d) While the puck is in contact with the wall.