Biomechanics Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to angular motion, levers, and stability.

Radius of Rotation

The perpendicular distance from a point to the axis of rotation.

Centric Force

A force applied through the center of an object.

Moment Arm

The shortest perpendicular distance between the line of action of a force and the axis of rotation around which that force is acting.

Angular Velocity

Revolutions per minute (RPM) of a rotating wheel.

Radius of Gyration

The distance that represents how far the mass of a rigid body would be from an axis of rotation if its mass were concentrated at one point.

Tangential Linear Velocity

The linear speed of an object moving along a circular path at any given point; it's always tangent to the circle at that point.

Fulcrum

The joint in the body serves as the fulcrum of a lever system.

Motive Torque

The muscle may provide the motive torque of a lever system.

Stability

The resistance to the disruption of equilibrium.

Equilibrium Conditions

Both the net force and the net torque acting on an object must be zero.