PE BioMech

Linear motion

Movement of an object or body in a straight line or curved path

Angular motion

Movement of an object or body around an axis (rotational)

General motion

A combination of linear and angular motion (most human movement)

Projectile motion

The flight path of an airborne body or object that can be manipulated by three main factors

Projectile

An airborne body (e.g. person) or object (e.g. ball)

Air resistance

Force acting on a projectile that affects the horizontal distance of a projectile

Gravity

Force acting on a projectile that affects the vertical distance of a projectile

Speed of release

The rate at which a projectile is released into the air

Angle of release

The angle at which a projectile is released into the air

Height of release

The starting height at which a projectile is released into the air

Mass

The measure of the quantity of matter found in an object or body

Inertia

The reluctance of a body to change its state of motion

Force

A push or pull from one body with mass to a second body, causing it to accelerate, decelerate or change direction

Distance

The amount of ground an object covers throughout its motion (or degrees it rotates)

Displacement

A body or object's overall change in position from start to finish (contains a direction)

Speed

Distance / time - the rate at which an object or body is moving from one location to another.

Velocity

Displacement / time - another rate at which an object or body is moving from one location to another (contains a direction, unlike speed)

Acceleration

The rate of change in velocity of an object or body

Momentum

The amount of motion that an object or body possesses

Moment of inertia

The reluctance of a body or object to rotate

Summation of forces

The correct timing and sequencing of body segments through a range of motion

Impulse

The change in momentum of a body

Torque

A force that causes an object to rotate

Friction

Occurs when two surfaces come into contact

Lever

A structure made up of a rigid bar, an axis, force input and resistance.

Axis

The point of rotation for a lever (e.g. an elbow)

Range of motion

The full extent (in degrees) that a lever can move through its potential arc

Mechanical advantage

The measure of a lever's ability to produce speed or force

Third class lever

Where the force (effort) is applied between the axis (fulcrum) and the resistance (load)

Newton's first law

An object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force

Newton's second law

An object will accelerate proportionate to the force applied and inversely proportionate to its mass

Newton's third law

Every action has its equal and opposite reaction

Equilibrium

When all opposing forces are balanced, can be static (stationary) or dynamic (whilst moving)

Stability

The degree at which the body resists changes in equilibrium

Balance

The ability to maintain or control equilibrium

Base of support

The area of an object that is in contact with a surface

Line of gravity

Imaginary line that travels through the centre of gravity into the middle of the base of support

Centre of gravity

The central point of an object that weight is evenly distributed around