Kinematic Concepts for Analyzing Human Motion

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture notes on kinematic concepts related to human motion analysis.

Mechanical System

A body or portion of a body that is deliberately chosen by the analyst.

Linear Motion (Translation)

All parts of an object or system move the same distance in the same direction at the same time.

Rectilinear Motion

Translation along a straight line.

Curvilinear Motion

Translation along a curved line.

Angular Motion (Rotation)

All points in an object or system move in a circle about a single, fixed axis of rotation.

Axis of Rotation

Imaginary line that the object spins about, oriented perpendicular to the plane of rotation.

General Motion

A combination of translation and rotation where an object rotates about a moving axis.

Spatial Reference Frames

A framework for understanding motion's position and orientation in space.

Mechanical System

A body or portion of a body that is deliberately chosen by the analyst.

Linear Motion (Translation)

All parts of an object or system move the same distance in the same direction at the same time.

Rectilinear Motion

Translation along a straight line.

Curvilinear Motion

Translation along a curved line.

Angular Motion (Rotation)

All points in an object or system move in a circle about a single, fixed axis of rotation.

Axis of Rotation

Imaginary line that the object spins about, oriented perpendicular to the plane of rotation.

General Motion

A combination of translation and rotation where an object rotates about a moving axis.

Spatial Reference Frames

A framework for understanding motion's position and orientation in space.

Kinematics

The branch of mechanics that describes the motion of a body without considering the forces or torques that cause the motion.

Kinetics

The branch of mechanics that analyzes the causes of motion, i.e., forces and torques.

Scalar Quantity

A quantity that is defined by its magnitude (size) only (e.g., mass, distance, speed).

Vector Quantity

A quantity that is defined by both its magnitude (size) and direction (e.g., displacement, velocity, force).

Mechanical System

A body or portion of a body that is deliberately chosen by the analyst.

Linear Motion (Translation)

All parts of an object or system move the same distance in the same direction at the same time.

Rectilinear Motion

Translation along a straight line.

Curvilinear Motion

Translation along a curved line.

Angular Motion (Rotation)

All points in an object or system move in a circle about a single, fixed axis of rotation.

Axis of Rotation

Imaginary line that the object spins about, oriented perpendicular to the plane of rotation.

General Motion

A combination of translation and rotation where an object rotates about a moving axis.

Spatial Reference Frames

A framework for understanding motion's position and orientation in space.

Kinematics

The branch of mechanics that describes the motion of a body without considering the forces or torques that cause the motion.

Kinetics

The branch of mechanics that analyzes the causes of motion, i.e., forces and torques.

Scalar Quantity

A quantity that is defined by its magnitude (size) only (e.g., mass, distance, speed).

Vector Quantity

A quantity that is defined by both its magnitude (size) and direction (e.g., displacement, velocity, force).

Distance

The total length of the path traveled by an object, a scalar quantity.

Displacement

The straight-line change in position of an object from its starting point to its ending point, a vector quantity.

Speed

The rate at which an object covers distance, a scalar quantity.

Velocity

The rate at which an object changes its position, including both magnitude (speed) and direction, a vector quantity.

Acceleration

The rate at which an object changes