Year 11 BiomechanicsYear 11 BiomechanicsThe study of forces and their effects on the human body

Characteristics of motionCharacteristics of motion

Linear motion- Motion that occurs is a straight line. All parts of the body

move in the same direction and at the same speed (e.g. jumping up in the air to catch a ball or travelling in a car).

Line out jumper in Rugby Union

Drag Racing

Characteristics of motionCharacteristics of motion

Angular motion- Motion that occurs around an axis. This axis can be

internal (e.g. body parts rotating around a joint) or external (e.g. spinning a ball on your finger).

Spinning a ball on your finger

Spinning figure skater

Characteristics of motionCharacteristics of motion

General Motion- A combination of linear and angular motion. This is the

most common of all movements, as most human movement requires the rotation of body parts around joints (e.g. cycling, swimming and running).

Characteristics of motionCharacteristics of motion

Apply your knowledge!- Classify the following physical activities as linear motion or

angular motion or general motion.

1. Sprinting2. Rebounding a basketball3. Driving a car4. Tossing a underhand ball in basketball5. Horse riding6. Lawn bowls

Check your answers

1. Sprinting – General 2. Rebounding a basketball - Linear3. Driving a car - Linear4. Tossing a underhand ball in basketball - Angular5. Horse riding - Linear6. Lawn bowls - Angular

Balance & StabilityBalance & Stability

Balance and StabilityBalance and Stability

Balance and Stability is important during sporting performances.

Being stable allows you to put more force into a movement and complete the movement with control

Centre of gravityCentre of gravity

Centre of gravity can be defined as “the single point at which all parts of an object are equally balanced”.

For a ‘normal’ human being standing upright, their centre of gravity lies around the area of their navel.

A persons centre of gravity can change depending on their body position because as mentioned before, the centre of gravity is the exact point where all parts of an object are equally balanced.

The centre of gravity can also lie outside an object, especially if the object is bent over or leaning in a certain direction

Centre of gravity (C.O.G)Centre of gravity (C.O.G)

= Centre of gravity

Centre of gravity for a “normal person”

Centre of gravityCentre of gravity

Centre of gravity for a person whose hands a stretched in the air

= Centre of gravity

Centre of gravity (C.O.G)Centre of gravity (C.O.G)

Centre of gravity outside of a persons body

= Centre of gravity

Box MethodBox Method

How can we measure C.O.G?◦Answer: We use the Box method

1. Draw a box around an image 2. From opposite corners draw a line, until an X is

formed 3. Where the lines cross is the C.O.G.

Example

C.O.G

Line of gravity Line of gravity - - The line of gravity is important The line of gravity is important when determining the stability of an object.when determining the stability of an object.

Line of gravity is the vertical line that passes through the centre of gravity to the ground.

If the line of gravity falls within the object’s base of support (i.e. its contact with the ground), the object is relatively stable.

If the line of gravity falls outside the object’s base of support (i.e. its contact with the ground), the object is relatively unstable.

Line of gravityLine of gravity

Centre of gravity

STABLE

Centre of gravity

UNSTABLE

Line of gravity Line of gravity

Base of support – Base of support – The object on the left is The object on the left is more stable because of its relatively larger BOSmore stable because of its relatively larger BOS

BOS is the area within an objects point of contact with the ground. The larger the area the base of support covers, the more stable an object will be.

Wide BOSNarrow BOS

BOSBOS

Line of gravity, BOS in relation to movementLine of gravity, BOS in relation to movement

The line of gravity (LOG) must go outside the base of support to initiate or continue movement.

The direction that the line of gravity takes relative to the BOS will be the direction of the resulting movement.

The further away the LOG is from the BOS, the greater the tendency the body has to move in that direction. E.g. Evasive running.

Line of gravity

Leg pushes against the ground

Top of body moves towards LOG

Direction of movement

Base of support

Centre of gravity, Line of gravity, Base Centre of gravity, Line of gravity, Base of support and Physical activityof support and Physical activity

Apply your knowledge!- Label the following images with the COG, LOG and BOS.- Is the performer stable?

Centre of gravity, Line of gravity, Base Centre of gravity, Line of gravity, Base of support and Physical activityof support and Physical activity

LeversLevers