Biomechanical Theory

and Concepts
PSK4U
 Review
 Stages of Motor Learning
 Cognitive, Associative, Autonomous

 3 Categories of Fundamental Movement Skills

 Stability (or Balance), Locomotion (or Travelling), Manipulation (or Object Control)

 Skill Transferability
 Phases of a Skill
 Preparation, Execution, Follow-Through

 Feedback
 Knowledge of Performance
 Knowledge of Results

 Sport Psychology – Mindset

 Self-Talk, Imagery/Vizualization, Relaxation/Arousal Regulation, Motivation, Concentration and Coping Strategies
THE NATURE OF FORCES AND
NEWTON’S LAWS OF MOTION
TOPICS COVERED IN THIS LESSON
•(a) Forces and Human Movement
•(b) Newton’s Three Laws of Motion
• (c) Levers
• (d) Linear/Rotational Motion

“What concepts and laws are fundamental to the study of biomechanics?”

“How do the three classes of lever in the human body function to produce movement?”
“For purposes of analysis, biomechanists classify human motion as either ‘linear’ or ‘rotational’.
Why?”
What is
Biomechanics?
Biomechanics is the branch of kinesiology
concerned with understanding the behaviour and
function of the human body when it is acted
upon by forces.
•The physics underlying physical
movement and sport.
•Biomechanists play a key role in helping
athletes and others develop proficient
movement patterns— optimizing
performance and reducing energy
expenditure
 What is a Force?
A force is a push or a pull. Because forces have both
magnitude (size) and direction, they are known as vector
quantities. Force is measured in newtons (N).
• External forces are forces that originate outside the
object or body that we wish to study (e.g., gravity,
wind resistance, or surface friction).
• Internal forces arise within the system we are
interested in studying—in this case, the human body
(e.g., when a muscle contracts, it generates a force
that results in the movement of the bone to which it
is attached).
• Newton’s laws are the foundation of the scientific
field of mechanics (and, therefore, biomechanics).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p5gv3i5ZDU
Newton’s Three
Laws of Motion
1. The Law of Inertia

2. The Law of Acceleration

3. The Law of Action-Reaction

Connor McDavid
https://www.nhl.com/video/mcdavid-wins-fastest-skater/t-277760578/c-65357103

Describe where you see the three laws of motion being applied as Connor McDavid executes his
skating skill.
1. The Law of Inertia?
2. The Law of Acceleration?
3. The Law of Action-Reaction?
1. The Law of
Inertia
“A body in motion tends to stay in motion
and a body at rest tends to stay at rest
unless acted upon by an external force.”

Restated: A body or object either remains in a

stationary position or continues to move at a
constant velocity, unless an external force is
exerted upon it.
•Inertia is the property of matter that causes
an object to resist any changes in motion.
2. The Law of Acceleration
“A force applied to an object causes an acceleration of that object of a magnitude
proportional to the force and in the direction of the force, but inversely proportional
to the object’s mass.” In other words, F = ma (N = kg/m/s^2)

Restated: Newton’s formula (F = ma) describes the relationship between the force acting on
an object (F), its mass (m), and its acceleration (a).
•For example, as more mass is added to a blocking sled, a football lineman must generate
more force for the sled to accelerate at the same rate.
•Proper technique and strength allow professional
tennis players to apply more force when they hit the ball,
causing the ball to accelerate faster.
 3. The Law of
Action-Reaction
“For every action, there is an
equal and opposite reaction.”

Restated: A reaction force arises whenever one body

exerts a force on another. The reaction force is equal and
opposite in magnitude and direction to the applied force.
• When a sprinter responds to the starter’s signal and
pushes against the starting blocks, the blocks
generate a reaction force that is equal and opposite
in magnitude and direction to the force applied by
the sprinter.
• Managing ground reaction forces can help a skier
efficiently maintain control during a downhill run.
What are Levers?
Levers are simple machines. A machine is a device, consisting of fixed yet interrelated parts,
that is capable of altering the direction and magnitude of a force. Levers perform one or
more of the following functions:
• Balance two or more forces
• Provide a force advantage (less effort force is required to overcome a greater resistance force)
• Provide an advantage in speed of movement (the load to be moved moves farther and faster than
the effort force)
Levers in the Human
Body
The configurations of the bone-joint-muscle arrangements in
our bodies are essentially levers.
•Can form the basis for developing musculoskeletal training
and conditioning programs, as well as rehabilitative exercise
regimens.
•Designing the physical world in which we live and work in
order to make our movements safer and more efficient.
(ergonomics – chairs, door handles, water fountains, etc.)
Classifying Levers
There are three classes of levers. These classes of levers are defined according to the relative
positioning of the following components:
•The fulcrum or joint (the axis of rotation),
•The effort (point of application of the force), and
•The load (the mass of the object, body, or part being moved; also known as the
resistance).
Class 1 Levers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1wS_OlJzmI

An example of a Class 1 lever in the human body is the neck as it

shifts from a position of flexion to a position of extension.
The most versatile of all levers. It can afford a speed and/or force
advantage.
Everyday examples of first class levers include:
•See-saws
•Crowbars
•Pliers
•Scissors (two first-class levers joined together)
•A hammer pulling out a nail
Class 2 Levers
An example of a Class 2 lever in the human body is the ankle joint
(the fulcrum) in combination with contraction of the gastrocnemius
muscle (the effort).
•A Class 2 lever affords a force advantage: a relatively small effort
can lift a large load.
Everyday examples of second class levers include:
•Wheelbarrows
•Staplers
•Doors
•Can openers
Class 3 Levers
An example of a Class 3 lever in the human body is a person
performing a biceps curl. The biceps muscle (effort) inserts on the
radius (at the end of which is the load itself) in combination with
the elbow joint (fulcrum).
A Class 3 lever provides a speed advantage, allowing relatively light
resistance loads to be moved through a greater range of motion.
Everyday examples of third class levers include:
• Brooms
• Rakes
• Fishing rods
• Baseball bats
Linear (or Translational) Motion
Linear (or Translational) Motion
•This type of motion is also commonly known as rectilinear or straightline motion.
•Linear motion takes place when a body or its collective parts moves the same distance, in the
same direction, in the same amount of time.
Angular (or Rotational) Motion
Angular (or Rotational) Motion
•Angular (or rotational) motion refers to movement of a body about an axis.
•In contrast to linear motion, in rotational motion the force does not act through the centre of
an object or body but rather is “off-centre,” and this results in rotation.
•E.g. When a basketball player steps out to dribble or pass, the player’s motion is linear. If
the player, however, decides to pass the ball or shoot it into the basket, he or she often
pivots on one foot, being careful to keep the pivot foot in place.
•Pivoting is an example of angular (or rotational) motion.
Resultant Force
•Typically, the linear motion of humans is a result of the interaction of a
combination of forces.
•In this photo, the two main forces are the ground
reaction force exerted upward on the player and the
player’s forward force.
•Using trigonometry, biomechanists can compute the
resultant force that causes the player’s linear motion.
• Can also be the combination of two or more players
applying force to each other.

•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdRWjJEbOio
Human Movement and Rotational Motion
Human physical activities can involve rotational or angular
motion in three different ways:
•Rotations of projectiles or other objects (e.g., the
swing of a hockey stick)
•Rotations of the entire human body about one of
three axes (e.g., the tumble of a gymnast)
•Rotations of individual body segments (e.g, the
throwing motion of a softball pitcher’s arm)

In each case, the rotating object or body has been

acted upon by a force that is off-centre, causing the
object to rotate about an axis.
What Determines Which Type of Motion Occurs?
The answer lies in the point at which the force is applied to an object or body with respect to the
centre of that object or body.
•A centric force is a force applied directly through the centre of an object or body and it
results in linear motion only: the object or body will move linearly in the direction of the
applied force.

•An eccentric (off-centre) force is a force directed through a point other than the centre of
the object or body and it always results in rotational motion (and sometimes linear motion,
too).
•The rotary or turning effect that is created by an eccentric force is known as torque (also
referred to as “moment of force”).
Careers Requiring a Knowledge of Biomechanics
• Physical education teachers
• Sport coaches
• Fitness instructors and personal trainers
• Strength and conditioning specialists
• Kinesiologists
• Physiotherapists
• Athletic and occupational therapists
• Rehabilitation medical professionals
• Sport physicians and chiropractors
• Prosthetists
• Ergonomists
• Product design engineers
Kahoot
https://create.kahoot.it/details/16f01226-a57a-4041-8c10-c626af2dd910