IBSEHS Fundamentals of Biomechanics

Force

a push or pull that can change the object’s state of motion

Speed

the rate of change of an object’s position

Velocity

the rate of change of an object’s position and it’s direction

Displacement

an object’s change in position considering its starting and final position

Acceleration

the rate of change of velocity of an object

Momentum

A measurement of mass in motion

Formula: momentum = mass * velocity

p = m * v

Impulse

a certain amount of force you apply for a certain amount of time to cause a change in momentum

Formula: Impulse = force * time

p = F * t

A Velocity-Time graph shows

acceleration

On a velocity-time graph, if acceleration is increasing then

the line is going up and it has a positive slope

On a velocity-time graph, if acceleration is decreasing then

the line is going down and it has a negative slope

On a velocity-time graph, if acceleration is zero then

the line is horizontal and it has zero slope

A distance-time graph shows

speed/velocity

In a distance-time, the slope of the line is equal to

the speed of the object

In a force-time graph, impulse can be calculated by finding

the area under the curve

The more momentum an object has…

the harder it is to stop. Thus, it requires a greater amount of force or a longer amount of time

Center of mass (COM)

the point at which the entire mass of a body may be considered concentrated for some purposes; equally balanced in all directions

Base of Support (BOS)

the area beneath an object or person that includes every point of contact the object or person makes with the supporting surface

Line of Gravity (LOG)

an imaginary vertical line from the center

Stability

ability to control movement of body position following a disturbance

Balance

ability to control equilibrium (in relation to gravity)

Equilibrium

State of no acceleration (no change in speed or direction)

What factors affect stability?

1. COM height ( the lower the com the more stable)

2. BOS (the wider the more stable)

3. Relation between BOS & LOG (the closer the LOG to the middle of the BOS the more stable