1. The study of forces and their effects on the human body
Year 11 Biomechanics
The study of forces and their effects on the human body

2. Characteristics 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
Characteristics of motion
Drag Racing

3. Characteristics 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 motion

4. Characteristics 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 motion

5. Characteristics of motion
Apply your knowledge!
Classify the following physical activities as linear motion or angular motion or general motion.
Sprinting
Rebounding a basketball
Driving a car
Tossing a underhand ball in basketball
Horse riding
Lawn bowls
Characteristics of motion

6. Check your answers Sprinting – General
Rebounding a basketball - Linear
Driving a car - Linear
Tossing a underhand ball in basketball - Angular
Horse riding - Linear
Lawn bowls - Angular

7. Balance & Stability

8. 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
Balance and Stability

9. 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

10. Centre of gravity (C.O.G)
Centre of gravity for a “normal person”
= Centre of gravity
Centre of gravity (C.O.G)

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

12. Centre of gravity (C.O.G)
Centre of gravity outside of a persons body
= Centre of gravity
Centre of gravity (C.O.G)

13. Box 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
Box Method

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

15. Line of gravity Line of gravity Line of gravity Centre of gravity
STABLE
UNSTABLE

16. BOS is the area within an objects point of contact with the ground
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.
Narrow BOS
Wide BOS
BOS
BOS
Base of support – The object on the left is more stable because of its relatively larger BOS

17. Line 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
Top of body moves towards LOG
Direction of movement
Leg pushes against the ground
Line of gravity, BOS in relation to movement
Base of support

18. Apply your knowledge!
Label the following images with the COG, LOG and BOS.
Is the performer stable?
Centre of gravity, Line of gravity, Base of support and Physical activity

19. Centre of gravity, Line of gravity, Base of support and Physical activity

20. Levers