Year 11 ATAR Physical Education Studies – Units 1 & 2 Revision

Comprehensive vocabulary revision flashcards covering core concepts, physiological processes, motor learning phases, biomechanical principles, and sport psychology terms from the SCSA Year 11 ATAR Physical Education Studies Units 1 & 2 checklist.

Excitability

The characteristic ability of skeletal muscle tissue to receive and respond to neural stimuli.

Contractibility

The characteristic ability of skeletal muscle tissue to forcefully shorten and generate tension when stimulated.

Extendibility

The characteristic ability of skeletal muscle tissue to be stretched or lengthened beyond its resting length without being damaged.

Elasticity

The characteristic ability of skeletal muscle tissue to return to its original resting length and shape after being stretched or contracted.

Agonist

The primary working muscle (prime mover) responsible for contracting and producing a specific joint movement within an antagonistic muscle pair.

Antagonist

The muscle that relaxes and yields to oppose the action of the prime mover within an antagonistic muscle pair.

Muscle Origin

The point of attachment of a muscle tendon to the more stationary or fixed bone during joint movement.

Muscle Insertion

The point of attachment of a muscle tendon to the more movable bone that moves when the muscle contracts.

Inspiration (Inhalation)

The active respiratory phase where the diaphragm contracts, the thoracic cavity expands, air pressure in the lungs drops, and air is drawn into the lungs due to the pressure difference.

Expiration (Exhalation)

The respiratory phase where the diaphragm relaxes, the pleural cavity contracts, air pressure in the lungs increases, and air is pushed out of the lungs.

Stroke Volume (SV)

The amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle of the heart into the aorta per contraction or heartbeat.

Cardiac Output (Q)

The total volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute, calculated as the product of heart rate and stroke volume ($Q = \text{HR} \times \text{SV}$).

Cardiac Hypertrophy

A long-term cardiovascular adaptation characterized by the enlargement and thickening of the heart muscle walls and ventricular cavities, enhancing stroke volume.

Maximum Oxygen Uptake (VO₂ max)

A long-term cardiorespiratory adaptation reflecting the maximum volume of oxygen that an individual can take up, transport, and utilise during maximal exhaustive exercise.

Capillarisation

A long-term adaptation resulting in an increased density and network of capillaries surrounding skeletal muscle fibres and alveoli to enhance gaseous exchange.

Adenosine Triphosphate–Creatine Phosphate (ATP-CP) System

The anaerobic energy system that rapidly resynthesises ATP using stored intramuscular creatine phosphate without oxygen, supplying maximal effort for short durations.

Lactic Acid System

The anaerobic energy system that resynthesises ATP through the incomplete breakdown of glycogen without oxygen, resulting in the accumulation of lactic acid.

Aerobic Energy System

The energy pathway that resynthesises ATP by breaking down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the presence of oxygen for sustained, lower-intensity activity.

Energy System Continuum

The concept describing how all three energy systems contribute concurrently to ATP production, with the predominant system determined by exercise intensity, duration, and type of activity.

Isometric Resistance Training

A resistance training method in which muscle tension is generated without any change in muscle length or joint angle against an immovable resistance.

Isotonic Resistance Training

A resistance training method involving dynamic concentric and eccentric contractions where muscle length changes while moving a constant external load.

Isokinetic Resistance Training

A resistance training method that uses specialized machines to maintain a constant speed of contraction throughout the full range of motion regardless of the force applied.

Progressive Overload

A training principle stating that to achieve ongoing physiological adaptations, training demands must be progressively increased by adjusting frequency, intensity, time (duration), or type.

Specificity

The training principle dictating that physiological adaptations match the specific energy systems, muscle groups, movement patterns, and fitness components trained.

Reversibility (Detraining)

The training principle stating that physiological adaptations and fitness gains gained through training will deteriorate when training stops or is substantially decreased.

Gross Motor Skills

Motor skills requiring the involvement and coordination of large muscle groups to execute movements such as running, kicking, or jumping.

Fine Motor Skills

Motor skills requiring high precision, hand-eye coordination, and the control of small muscle groups, such as writing or playing darts.

Open Motor Skills

Motor skills performed in an unpredictable, changing, and externally paced environment where the athlete must continuously adapt their movements to external factors.

Closed Motor Skills

Motor skills performed in a stable, predictable, and internally paced environment where the athlete decides when to begin and execute the movement.

Discrete Motor Skills

Motor skills that have a clearly defined and identifiable beginning and end point, such as a tennis serve or a golf drive.

Serial Motor Skills

Motor skills composed of a specific sequence of discrete skills chained together in a distinct order, such as a triple jump or a gymnastics floor routine.

Continuous Motor Skills

Motor skills that possess arbitrary, repetitive beginnings and endings where the end of one movement cycle is the start of the next, such as swimming or cycling.

Cognitive Phase

The initial stage of learning in Fitts and Posner's model where the beginner focuses on understanding what needs to be done, characterised by inconsistent execution, high mental effort, and frequent errors.

Associative Phase

The intermediate stage of learning in Fitts and Posner's model characterized by extensive practice, refinement of motor programs, fewer errors, and developing self-error detection abilities.

Autonomous Phase

The final stage of learning in Fitts and Posner's model where skill execution is automatic, fluid, and highly consistent, allowing the performer to focus on tactics and decision-making.

Proprioceptive Cues

Internal sensory cues regarding body position, movement, balance, and muscle tension perceived through internal sensory receptors (proprioceptors).

Intrinsic (Inherent) Feedback

Sensory information that the performer receives naturally and directly from their own senses (visual, auditory, tactile, proprioceptive) during or after executing a movement.

Extrinsic (Augmented) Feedback

Information about a performance delivered by an external source outside the performer's body, such as coach commentary, video replay, or scoreboards.

Concurrent Feedback

Feedback provided to the performer while the motor skill is actively being executed.

Terminal Feedback

Feedback delivered to the performer after the execution of the motor skill has been concluded.

Linear Motion

Motion occurring when all parts of a body or object travel along a parallel pathway (straight or curved) in the same direction, at the same speed, through the same distance.

Angular Motion

Rotational movement of an object or body part around an internal or external axis of rotation, where all points rotate through the same angle at the same time.

General Motion

A combination of linear motion and angular motion occurring simultaneously, representing the most common form of movement in human athletic performance.

Projectile Motion

The curved flight path followed by an airborne body or object that is launched into the air and subjected only to external forces of gravity and air resistance.

Parabolic Trajectory

A symmetrical, curved pathway traced by a projectile when gravity is the sole dominant force influencing its flight path.

Newton's First Law

The law of inertia, which states that a body remains at rest or in uniform linear motion unless compelled to change that state by an external net force.

Newton's Second Law

The law of acceleration, which states that the rate of acceleration of a body is directly proportional to the magnitude of the applied net force and inversely proportional to its mass ($\mathbf{F} = m\mathbf{a}$).

Newton's Third Law

The law of action and reaction, stating that for every action force applied, there is an equal and opposite reaction force.

First-Class Lever

A lever system arranged such that the axis (fulcrum) is located between the force (effort) and the resistance (load).

Second-Class Lever

A lever system arranged such that the resistance (load) is located between the axis (fulcrum) and the force (effort).

Third-Class Lever

A lever system arranged such that the force (effort) is applied between the axis (fulcrum) and the resistance (load), functioning primarily to increase range and speed of motion.

Ideal Performance State (The Zone)

A psychological state of optimal arousal, complete focus, and heightened confidence wherein an athlete performs at their absolute peak effortlessly and without self-doubt.

Inverted U Hypothesis

A sport psychology theory predicting that athletic performance increases with physiological and mental arousal up to an optimal point, after which higher arousal causes performance deterioration.

Nideffer’s Model

An attentional control model classifying concentration across two dimensions: width (broad vs. narrow) and direction (internal vs. external).

Process Goals

Goals that target the specific actions, executions, skills, or behaviors an individual must carry out during performance to achieve optimal execution.

Performance Goals

Goals that focus on achieving personal performance standards or intermediate statistical targets independent of the actions of other competitors.

Outcome Goals

Goals that focus primarily on the competitive result or end outcome of an event, such as winning a match or securing first place, which are dependent on opponents.