Linear and Angular Kinematics

Linear and Angular Kinematics I

Course Information

  • Instructor: Chris Kuenze, PhD, ATC


Knowledge Check #1 - Cyclist Example

  • Scenario: A professional cyclist rides from Charlottesville to Harrisonburg.

    • Displacement: 61 km

    • Distance: 110 km (country roads)

    • Time: 5 hours and 10 minutes

  • Task: Calculate the cyclist's average speed.

Required Data
  • Total Distance Traveled: 110 km, which converts to:

    • 110 ext{ km} = 110,000 ext{ meters}

  • Total Time Taken: 5 hours and 10 minutes, converted to seconds:

    • 5 ext{ hr} = 5 imes 3600 + 10 imes 60 = 18,600 ext{ seconds}

Calculation of Speed
  • Formula for Speed:

    • Average speed is calculated using the formula:

    • ext{Average speed} = rac{ ext{Total Distance}}{ ext{Total Time}}

  • Substituting Values:

    • ext{Average speed} = rac{110,000 ext{ m}}{18,600 ext{ s}} ext{ m/s}

  • Result:

    • ext{Average speed} ext{ (approx)} = 5.91 ext{ m/s}


Linear Acceleration

  • Formula Explanation:

    • Angular acceleration denoted as: ext{α}

    • Acceleration is defined as:

    • ext{Acceleration} = rac{ ext{Change in Velocity}}{ ext{Change in Time}}

  • Sample Calculation:

    • Given:

    • Starting Velocity: 0 ext{ m/s}

    • End Velocity: 10.44 ext{ m/s}

    • Start Time: 0 ext{ s}

    • End Time: 9.58 ext{ s}

  • Calculation of Changes:

    • Change in Velocity:

    • ext{Change in Velocity} = 10.44 ext{ m/s} - 0 ext{ m/s} = 10.44 ext{ m/s}

    • Change in Time:

    • ext{Change in Time} = 9.58 ext{ s} - 0 ext{ s} = 9.58 ext{ s}

Resulting Acceleration
  • Final Calculation:

    • ext{Acceleration} = rac{10.44 ext{ m/s}}{9.58 ext{ s}} = 1.09 ext{ m/s}^2


Linear and Angular Kinematics II

  • Key Takeaways:

    • Relationship between axis of rotation and plane of motion.

    • Basic metrics for describing angular kinematics including:

    • Angular velocity (ω)

    • Angular acceleration (α)

    • Directional systems for motion.


Axes of Rotation

  • Concept: As motion occurs, joints turn around an axis related to the motion plane.

  • Types of Axes:

    • Mediolateral Axis of Rotation: Runs side to side

    • Anteroposterior Axis of Rotation: Runs front to back

    • Longitudinal Axis of Rotation: Runs top to bottom

Rotary (Angular) Motion
  • Definition: Movement in which each point on a segment moves through the same angle at the same time and at a constant distance from the center of rotation.


Degrees of Freedom

  • Definition: Indicates the movement options available for a segment.

  • Six Degrees of Freedom: An unconstrained segment can rotate around three axes, giving:

    • ext{Degrees of Freedom} = 3 ext{ axes} imes 2 ext{ directions} = 6


Conversion Between Units

  • Linear vs Rotary Motion Units:

    • Linear motion is measured in meters.

    • Rotational motion is measured in radians:

    • 1.0 ext{ radian} ext{ (approx)} = 57.3 ext{ degrees}

Example Conversion from Degrees to Radians
  • 72 Degrees Conversion:**

    • ext{Radians} = 72° imes rac{ ext{π}}{180} = 1.25664 ext{ radians}

    • To convert radians back to degrees:

    • ext{Degrees} = ext{Radians} imes rac{180}{ ext{π}}

    • Example: 1.4 ext{ rad} imes rac{180}{ ext{π}} ext{ (gives approximately } 80.21°


Direction of Rotation

  • Signs assigned to rotation direction:

    • Clockwise: (-)

    • Counterclockwise: (+)


Angular Kinematics Example

  • Starting Position: - rac{ ext{π}}{6} ext{ rad}

  • End Position: rac{ ext{π}}{6} ext{ rad}

Calculating Angular Displacement
  • Formula:

    • ext{Angular Displacement} = ext{End Position} - ext{Starting Position}

    • Calculation:

    • ext{Displacement} = rac{ ext{π}}{6} - ig(- rac{ ext{π}}{6}ig) = rac{2 ext{π}}{6} = rac{ ext{π}}{3} ext{ rad}

Angular Velocity Calculation
  • Given Time: Change in Time is 3 seconds.

  • Angular Velocity Calculation:

    • ext{Angular Velocity} = rac{ ext{Angular Displacement}}{ ext{Change in Time}} = rac{ rac{ ext{π}}{3}}{3 ext{ s}} = rac{ ext{π}}{9} ext{ rad/s}


Angular Acceleration

  • Definition: Rate of change of angular velocity with respect to time.

  • Formula for Angular Acceleration:

    • ext{Angular Acceleration} ( ext{α}) = rac{ ext{Δω (rad/s)}}{ ext{Δt (s)}}

  • Example Calculation:

    • Starting Velocity: 0 ext{ rad/s}

    • End Velocity: - rac{ ext{π}}{2} ext{ rad/s}

    • Change in Time: 4 seconds.

    • Calculation:

    • Step 1: - rac{ ext{π}}{2} - 0 = - rac{ ext{π}}{2}

    • Step 2: ext{Angular Acceleration} = rac{- rac{ ext{π}}{2}}{4 ext{ s}} = - rac{ ext{π}}{8} ext{ rad/s}^2


Summary of Coordinate System

  • Axes Defined:

    • X-axis: Medial-Lateral

    • Right = Positive

    • Left = Negative

    • Y-axis: Anterior-Posterior

    • Anterior = Positive

    • Posterior = Negative

    • Z-axis: Longitudinal

    • Superior = Positive

    • Inferior = Negative


Upcoming Topics

  • Future Lectures include:

    • Biomechanics and Motor Control

    • Linear and Angular Kinematics

    • Forces in Human Movement

    • Muscle Mechanics