Biomechanics

Newton's first law: An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an unbalanced force. An object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. This law is often called "the law of inertia".

Newton's second law: Acceleration is produced when a force acts on a mass. The greater the mass (of the object being accelerated) the greater the amount of force needed (to accelerate the object).

Newton's third law: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction

First class lever: the fulcrum is between the force and the load

Second class lever: the fulcrum and the force are at opposite ends with the load in the middle

Third class lever: fulcrum and load are at opposite ends with the force applied in the middle

lower centre of gravity

larger base of support

closer line of gravity to the centre of the base support

greater mass

Example: a wrestler tends to lower their centre of gravity by bending their legs to increase stability

the production of maximum force requires the use of all the joints that can be used

Example: a sprinter uses their entire body to increase their speed

The production of maximum velocity requires the use of joints in order from largest to smallest

Example: in golf, a person rotates their body starting from their legs all the way to their shoulders to increase velocity of their swing

the greater the applied impulse, the greater the increase in velocity

Example: a golf swing is also an example of impulse

movement occurs in the direction opposite of the applied force

Example: when a person is pushing a box, the box will move in the opposite direction of the person

also known as Torque

angular motion is produced by the application of force acting at some distance from an axis/torque

Example: in tennis, a player rotates their body to allow for a better swing of the raucquet

angular momentum is constant when an athlete or object is free in the air

Example: when an ice skater spins in a circle, inertia decrease and angular velocity increases to maintain angular momentum