CBSE Class 12 Physical Education Biomechanics in Sports Assignment Set 01

Meaning of Biomechanics
Biomechanics is the branch of Kinesiology which deals with the precise information of human movements using scientific methods. In sports and exercise, biomechanics refers to the study of human movements, including the interaction between the athlete, sports equipment and the exercise environment.

Importance of Biomechanics in Sports
Biomechanics play a crucial role in the field of physical education and sports.
Physical educators teach a wide variety of human movements, and biomechanics provides a rationale critical for evaluating these techniques and prescribing intervention to athletes to improve their performance with minimal injuries.
It helps trainers and coaches to improve the physical performance of athletes using the various biomechanical techniques of different sports.

Types of Movements
Physical activity is made possible by movements and motions.
Every movement takes place in one plane and around one axis. They are categorised by movement type as follows
(i) Flexion It takes place when the angle decreases between the two bones attached to a joint and the body parts come closer.
(ii) Extension It takes place when the angle between the two bones attached to a joint increases. As a results, the body parts move further apart.
(iii) Adduction It is a movement of a part toward the middle of the body.
(iv) Abduction It is a movement of a part away from the middle of the body.

Newton's Laws of Motion and their Application in Sports Laws of Motion
Sir Issac Newton made three laws of motion which are explained below
(i) Newton’s First Law of Motion This law is known as law of inertia. This law states that a body at rest will remain at rest and a body in motion will remain in motion at the same speed and in the same direction till any external force is applied on it to change that state.
(ii) Newton’s Second Law of Motion This law states that the rate of change of momentum of an object is directly proportional to the force producing it and inversely proportional to mass.
a = F/m where a ∝ F. a ∝ 1/m
(iii) Newton’s Third Law of Motion This law states that for every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction.

Application of Laws of Motion in Sports
First Law
(i) Softball The ball is hit into the air. Eventually, gravity will act on the ball, pulling it down to the ground. Then, it will roll until friction between the ball and the grass stops it.
(ii) Soccer When a soccer ball is kicked into the air, gravity will pull it back to the ground. Then, it will continue to roll until friction between the ball and the grass slows it down.
(iii) Dance When a dancer leaps, he/she only stays in the air for a short amount of time because air resistance and gravity works against them.
(iv) Basketball When a basketball is shot, it takes a parabolic path due to gravity acting on it. Then it slows down due to air resistance and fluid friction.

Second Law
If a baseball player hits a ball with double the force, the rate at which the ball will accelerate (speed up) will be doubled. Football players can slow down, stop or reverse the direction of other players depending upon how much force they can generate and in which direction. Further, in sports involving weights, the more the weight, the slower it will move.

Third Law
A swimmer propels herself through the water because the water offers enough counterforce to oppose the action of her hands pushing, allowing her to move. An athlete can jump higher off a solid surface because it opposes his body with as much force as he is able to generate, in contrast to sand or other unstable surface. It is also applied in Dribbling of a basketball, shooting and walking sports.