Week 1 - Intro to angular mechanics, theory

Essential Reading: Hamill, J., Knutzen, K.M. & Derrick, T. (2021). Biomechanical Basis of Human Movement. Williams and Wilkins, London. Chapter 9 – Angular Kinematics

Notes:

Definition of angular displacement:

When all parts of the body move through the same angle but don’t go through the same linear displacement.

  • like a merry go round, the middle has a smaller displacement compared to the edge, but the go round the same angle.


angular distance: the total angular distance travelled

angular displacement: final angle - initial angle

  • often measured in degrees, minutes, revolutions and radians.

angular velocity (w): how fast the angle is changing:

  • change in angle / time taken

  • ex: a wheel spins 180* in 2 seconds: 180/2 = 90* per second

angular acceleration (a): how quickly the increase in speed changes

  • change in angular velocity / time taken

  • ex: a wheel speeds from 10 rad/s to 20 rad/s in 5 seconds:

  • 20 - 10 / 5 = 2rad/s2


Lecture notes:

Parts of a circle

Parts of The Circle