BIOMECHANICS AND SPORTS
unit 8
SCHOLAR SAKSHAM HAJELA
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CONTENT
Biomechanics
Newton's Laws of Motion and its Application in Sports
Types of Levers and their application in Sports.
Equilibrium- Dynamics and Statics AND Centre of Gravity and its
application in sports
Friction and Sports
Projectile in Sports
BIOMECHANICS
• Bio- something living
• Mechanics- the branch of Physics dealing with the study of motion when subjected to (expose to) forces
or displacements
• Biomechanics is the science of movement of a living body, including how muscles, bones, tendons, and
ligaments work together to produce movement. Biomechanics is part of the larger field of kinesiology,
explicitly focusing on movement mechanics. It is both a primary and applied science, encompassing
research and practical use of its findings.
• The study and analysis of human movement pattern in sports is called biomechanics
.............................. Watson
Sports Biomechanics can be defined as the study of forces and their effect on individual during sports activity.
IMPORTANCE OF BIOMECHANICS
• Assists In Improving Technique- sale style, hang style
• Help In Improving Equipment- shoes, t-shirt.
• Facilitate Performance In Sports-
• Support In Preventing Injury- joint injury, movement economy.
• Helps In Promoting Safety- guards, Newton 3rd law
• Work In The Improvement Of Training- micro, meso, macro,
• Facilitates Understanding Of Human Body
• Assists In Improving Teaching And Learning Process
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NEWTON’S LAW OF MOTION
Isaac Newton
LAW OF INERTIA
• 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 unless acted on by an external force
BALL AT REST
LAW OF ACCELLERATION
• The greater force applied, the greater the acceleration, and the greater the mass, the lower the
acceleration.
Rate of change in momentum= force applied
Momentum – mass x velocity
LAW OF REACTION
For every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.
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The application of these laws in various sports is given below
HAMMER THROW
ROMAN RINGS
1st • Starting in Sprinting. ROWING
law • Throwing of Hammer.
2nd • Hammer Throw, the thrower, who is stronger (who has more force), will throw the 12 lbs
law hammer farther than a thrower who has less force or strength. A hammer thrower will find
that more force is required to throw 16 lbs hammer than a 12 lbs hammer.
• Swimming: A swimmer pushes the water backwards (action). The water pushes the swimmer
forward (reaction) with the same force.
• Walking: When a person walks, he/she presses the ground in the backward direction (action)
3rd by his/her feet. The ground pushes him/her in the forward direction with an equal force
law (reaction).
• Shooting: In shooting, when a gun or pistol is fired, the bullet moves forward (action). The
gun or pistol jerks backward (reaction).
• Dribbling in Basketball
• High jump
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LEVERS
• The lever is a type of machine. It is the human body’s mechanism for movement, and although it may be
viewed as a part of the skeletal system, the role of the muscles in supplying the necessary force for lever
action. The bony levers will be not in motion until they are moved by the muscles, which are motionless
until the nervous system stimulates them.
• A lever is “a rigid bar used to overcome resistance when a force is applied.
• The Fulcrum - It is the point at which the lever rotates or turns.
• The Force/Effort Arm –It is the point at which the force is applied.
• The Load/Resistance Arm – It is the point where the load or resistance is located.
Components Standard Symbols Meaning
LOAD The load is the object requiring moving,
FULCRUM The fulcrum is the joint around which the movement occurs,
EFFORT The effort is the muscular force we use to move the object,
LEVER The bones of the skeleton are the levers.
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TYPES OF LEVERS
First-Class Lever
• A first lever has the fulcrum between the force and the resistance. This class fulcrum may be moved
about along the lever, thereby changing the relative lengths of the force arm and the resistance arm. If
the fulcrum is placed close to the resistance, the force arm is length, and less force need to be applied
to move the resistance, but force must be applied through a long distance to lift the resistance a short
distance. Conversely, a shortened force arm requires more excellent force application, but there is a
gain in speed and range of motion at the resistance end.
V- sit-up position.
Triceps causing Extension at the elbow Example: When doing V-sit-up –
Example: When throwing a ball: Fulcrum = Hip joint
Fulcrum = Elbow Effort = Abdomen
Effort = Triceps Load = Leg/Lower body
Load = Arm/ball
Atlanto-oc-cipital
application in sports
Looking up/down or side-to-side (1st class) - Your head is balanced on your atlantooccipital joint, which
pivots, similarly to a see-saw. SCHOLAR SAKSHAM HAJELA [Link]@[Link]
Second Class Lever
• A second class lever has the resistance between the fulcrum and the force. In this class of levers, movement
of the fulcrum will increase or decrease both the force arm and the resistance arm. The force arm is always the longer of the two,
and therefore the force needed to lift resisting weight will always be less than the weight . This means a large load can be
moved with relatively low effort.
The foot acting as a whole is a second-class lever when
the fulcrum is the ball of the foot, and the body weight is
lifted to the toes by force at the heel.
Example: When throwing a ball:
Fulcrum = Ankle joint
Straight Push-ups.
Effort = Gastrocnemius
Example: When doing V-sit-up –
Load = Ankle joint
Fulcrum = Ball of the foot
Effort = Arm Muscle contraction.
Load = Body weight
Application In Sports
Skipping rope or jump rope
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Third Class Lever
• A third-class lever has the force is between the fulcrum and the resistance. In this class of lever, the
force arm is always shorter than the resistance arm, and so a large amount of force must be applied,
but the resistance is moved through a much longer range of motion than the force application.
• This means they can produce a large range of movement with relatively low effort.
• In the human body, the most common class of lever is the third. It is particularly important in the
movements of the limps.
Sit-ups
Bicep causing flexion at the elbow Example: When doing Sit-ups
Example: When throwing a ball: Fulcrum = Hip joint
Fulcrum = Elbow joint Effort = Abdomen
Effort = Biceps Load = Upper body
Load = Arm/Weight
Application In Sports
Kicking - Lower limb (3rd class) – The fulcrum at the knee joint, force at tibial tuberosity, (attachment of the quadriceps)
load is the foot.
Cricket bat (2nd class) - The fulcrum is the top of the handle, the load is the bat’s body, and the force is closer to the neck
of the handle SCHOLAR SAKSHAM HAJELA [Link]@[Link]
EQUILIBRIUM
• When all the forces acting on the body are counter balanced by equal and opposite forces, so that
the sum of the forces equals zero, it is called the state of equilibrium.
• It can also be said that equilibrium occurs when the resultant force acting on a point is zero, A state of
equilibrium occurs when the body's centre of gravity is over its base of support and the line of gravity
falls within the base.
• Resultant Force is the force obtained when two or more forces are Combined.
TYPES OF EQUILIBRIUM
• Static Equilibrium. Static equilibrium is when the centre of gravity is in a stable position, e.g., when
one is sitting or performing a handstand in gymnastics.
• Dynamic Equilibrium. Dynamic equilibrium is a state in which the centre of gravity is in motion, e.g.,
when one is running or performing a cartwheel in gymnastics.
• Dynamic equilibrium or dynamic stability is a balance of the body during movement.
• Example: Body position maintained by a sprinter while running on the track, Cyclist while cycling,
dribbling of the football by a soccer player etc.
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FACTORS INCREASING EQUILIBRIUM
• The centre of gravity falls within the base of support
– Decrease instability when the centre of gravity becomes near the edge of the base
• Larger base
• Greater weight
• Lower centre of gravity
• When anticipating an oncoming force (जब किसी आने वाली शक्ति िा पूवाा नुमान हो)
– Place centre of gravity near the side of the base of support expected to receive force
– Extending the base of support in direction of expected force
• Greater friction between body and surfaces it contacts
• Rotation about an axis
– Moving cycle is easier to balance than a stationary cycle The vestibular system functions to
detect the position and movement of
• Kinaesthetic physiological functions our head in space. This allows for the
– Vestibular system, vision, touch, and kinaesthetic awareness coordination of eye movements,
posture, and equilibrium.
Examples: Stance maintained by the batsmen in cricket, on the starting block by the sprinter, wide stance
maintained by the wrestler, etc
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Guiding Principles to Determine the Degree of Stability
• Broader the base, the greater the stability: Broadening the base of support helps an athlete to achieve
greater stability. eg., while standing spreading the feet in the direction of movement provide stability.
Where a stance is required, using both hands and feet creates the widest base.
• Body weight is directly proportional to stability: The athlete which weighs more will have greater
stability. eg., it is difficult to move a heavier person than a lighter one,
• Lower the Centre of gravity, higher the stability: When a player does an activity that needs stability,
the player usually lowers their centre of gravity by bending their knees. eg., when a player bends his
knees while running, he can stop sooner and more efficiently. Similarly, a wrestler half sits to maintain
his stability. Even a shot-put thrower bends his knees in the end so that he may avoid a foul.
• The nearer the centre of gravity to the centre of the base of support the more will be the stability: If
the centre of gravity extends beyond the base of support, balance is lost. Keeping the body’s weight
centred over the base will support and help maintain stability. eg., when a gymnast walks on a balance
beam one requires a small base of support. During the performance, if the balance is lost the gymnast
raises the arm or legs on the opposite sides to shift the centre of gravity back towards the base of
support.
• Direction of acting force: During a competition, if the direction of an acting/ applied force is known,
stability can be increased by moving the line of gravity as close as possible to the edge of the base
where the force is expected. eg., when in a judo match the judoka shifts his foot in the line of direction
of the force applied by the opponent to use the force of the opponent as a counterforce to throw him
down.
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CENTRE OF GRAVITY
• The Centre of gravity is the point at which all the weight or mass of a body may be considered to be
concentrated (िेक्तित).
• The centre of gravity is an imaginary point around which the body or object is balanced
• Centre of gravity is that point at which all of the body’s mass seems to be located and the point
about which an object would balance
• The COG is persistently changing during movement, it is within or outside the body
Importance and Application of centre of gravity in Sports
(a) Helps the athlete to move
(b) Stops the moving object
(c) Helps the athlete to accelerate
(d) Helps the athlete in throwing objects.
(e) Helps the athlete to lift the object.
(f) Helps the athlete to pull the object
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Example of Centre of Gravity
• In the game of basketball and volleyball, high defence players spread their legs to lower the centre of
gravity towards the base to occupy a better position against the offensive player.
• Starting in short sprints in track events is another example of the use the of centre of gravity. As we
need to take an instant start in sprints, we take our body weight on our hands in the “Set” position. So,
that we can start immediately while balancing our weight. (Initially, the centre of gravity of the body
falls on the edge of the baseline of hands. If the centre of gravity falls behind the line, then there will be
delay in starting because it will require a greater force to go ahead).
• In combative sports like wrestling, a wrestler falls on the mat with arms, knees, and legs spread on the
mat to get a proper balanced position, (This position, makes it difficult for the opposite player to move
him.
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FRICTION & SPORTS
• Friction is a force between two surfaces that are sliding.
• Force of friction is the force that develops at the surfaces of contact of two bodies and opposes their
relative motion.
• Friction is a force that opposes the motion between two surfaces that are in touch. Friction always
works in the direction opposite from the direction the object is moving or trying to move. Friction also
produces heat
• TYPES OF FRICTION
• STATIC FRICTION
• KINETIC FRICTION
– Rolling Friction
– Sliding Friction
– Fluid Friction
• Static Friction: The opposing force that comes into play when one body tends to move over the surface
of another, but the actual motion has not yet started, is called static friction.
• Kinetic Friction: Kinetic/Dynamic friction is the opposing force that comes into play when one body is
actually moving over the surface of another body. Further, dynamic friction may be of two types i.e.,
sliding friction and rolling friction. These are described below.
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TYPES OF KINETIC/DYNAMIC FRICTION
• Sliding Friction: The opposing force that comes into play when one body is actually
sliding over the surface of the other body is called sliding friction. For example, ice-skating
and in planting the pole in pole vault.
• Rolling Friction: The opposing force that comes into play when one body is actually
rolling over the surface of the other body is called rolling friction. For example, when a
hockey or cricket ball is hit, it rolls on the surface of the ground. It stops after some time
due to rolling friction
• Fluid friction: opposes the motion of objects travelling through the fluid (gas, air, and
water).
For example:
• When you ride a bike, fluid friction occurs between you and the air.
• Cyclist often wears streamlined helmets and specially designed clothing to reduce fluid friction.
• Paragliding vs hang gliding when an athlete glides on air.
Things that affect friction
• Applying a lubricant between two surfaces. (Motor oil, grease)
• Friction can be reduced by rolling rather than pushing an object
• Friction increases as surfaces are made rougher.
• Friction increases when the force between two objects is increased
• In general, smooth surfaces produce less friction than uneven surfaces.
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METHODS OF REDUCING FRICTION
• Polishing: If we polish and rub the surface to reduce its unevenness and make it smooth, the
force of friction can be reduced. eg., shining a cricket ball increase the swing of the ball.
• Lubricating: A common way to reduce the force of friction is by applying a lubricate such as Motor
oil, grease, wax etc. eg., the most widely used lubricants in practical mechanical systems like
bearings or gears.
• Wheels and Ball bearing use: It is easier to roll an object than to slide it by using wheels and ball
bearings as we convert sliding friction into rolling friction. This reduces friction between the two
contact surfaces and helps us to save energy and time. eg., in roller skates, both wheels and balls
contribute to reducing friction.
• Streamlining: Friction due to air is reduced by streamlining the shape of the body. eg., the Javelin,
boats, ships, and vehicles, are made with a sharp point to reduce friction.
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Advantages of Friction in Sports
• Friction is essential in the field of sports. Without appropriate friction, we will not be able to grip
any sports equipment effectively.
• Athletics: In Athletics, the shoes (spikes) are designed to increase friction so that better speed can be
generated. The shoes used for short-distance running events have spikes in the front portion only.
Whereas the long-distance runner uses completely different shoes.
• Badminton: The grip in badminton plays a major role in performing a shot perfectly during a match.
That is why a good grip in rackets, will increase the friction with the hand, preventing the racket from
slipping.
• Basketball: Friction between the shoes and the court helps players to maintain control of movement.
• Cycling: The friction between the tires and the surface prevents cyclists from slipping. The friction
between the brakes and the wheel help cyclists slow down their bikes.
Disadvantages of Friction in Sports
• Bicycling: During cycle racing the tires get heated up due to friction. Due to more heat, tires may burst and it
may lead to serious accidents.
• Weightlifting and Gymnastics: In weightlifting and gymnastics, the skin in the palm gets damaged due to
friction and the athlete even may slip while performing the lift. Hence, gymnasts and weight lifters are advised
to use powder on their palms
• Pole-Vault: During Pole-Vault, a vaulter may lose grip on the pole if less friction is there between palms and
pole. Hence, pole vaunters are advised to use adhesive (grip powder) on the palm to increase friction and
perform correctly.
• Friction makes movements difficult:
• Friction can cause injuries:
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PROJECTILE
• A projectile is any object thrown into space upon which the only acting force is gravity. The primary
force acting on a projectile is gravity.
• There are forces which act on a projectile - gravitational force and air resistance.
• Air resistance is a force that is caused due to air when an object moves through it.
• The path followed by a projectile is called trajectory or parabola
• Examples from sports involve projectile motion:
• Objects acting as projectiles: basketball, football, shot-put, hammer, discus, javelin, volleyball, etc .
• The body acts as a projectile in high jump, long jump, gymnastics, diving, etc.
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FACTORS AFFECTING PROJECTILE TRAJECTORY/ PARABOLA
• Angle of Projection- any object when projected at different angle covers
different distance. When object is projected or released at the angle of 30°,
making a parabolic path, it cover less distance. When an object is released at
45° angle making a parabolic path it cover maximum distance. The distance
covered by an object depend on the angle of release of projectile. Scientifically
it can be said that the angle of 45° is the best angle for achieving maximum
distance. If an object projected at 90° angle it does not cover any distance but
falls on the same spot from where it is projected.
• Projection height relevant to the landing surface- If the height of the
projection and the landing surface is equal then release the object at the angle
of 45°. If the level of the landing surface is more than the height of projection,
increase the angle of projection, means above than 45°. If the level of landing
surface is less than the height of projection, decrease the angle of projection,
means less than 45°. So, the horizontal distance of an object depends on the
relevancy of projection height and landing surface.
• Speed of release - it is that it is the velocity of an object when it started moving
from rest. If it is less the object covers less distance, or If it is more the object
covers more distance
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FACTORS AFFECTING PROJECTILE TRAJECTORY/ PARABOLA
• Gravity- Gravity is a force that attracts a body towards the centre of the earth. The greater the
weight of an object, the greater the influence of gravity upon it. Gravity affects a projectile as it
decreases the height of projectile that can be obtained. The force of gravity acts on the object to
stop its upward movement and pulls it back to earth.
• Air resistance- Air resistance is a force that is caused by air. The force acts in the opposite direction
to an object moving through the air, When a projectile moves through the air, it is slowed down by
air resistance. The effect of air resistance is very small, but it needs to be taken into consideration
There are following factors which are related to the amount of air resistance acting on a projectile:
– Surface of the object. The amount of the air resistance depend on the surface of the
object. If the surface of the object (football, cricket ball, basketball, etc.) is rough, the
air resistance will definitely be greater.
– Mass. Air resistance depends on the mass of the object. If the mass of the object is
smaller there will be more air resistance. For a feather in comparison to a stone
– Speed. The faster an object moves and the greater its area, the higher the air
resistance gets
– Surface area: The larger the surface area, the more air resistance will affect the
object
• Spin- The spin also affects the flight of an object. In fact, the amount and direction of spin acting on a
projectile directly affects the distance covered or travelled by a projectile. The main reason behind
this fact is the air pressure acting on the ball.
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APPLICATION OF PROJECTILE IN SPORTS
• Baseball
• Pitching analysis (throwing)
• Projectile motion is applicable in both throwing and hitting. A thrown ball
undergoes projectile motion when it is mid-air since the only force that affects
the ball is the acceleration due to gravity. A variety of factors will affect the
pitch, including a pitcher’s height, arm angle, and the spin being applied to the
ball.
• Hitting analysis
• In terms of hitting, advanced analytics like to use “launch angle” as a good
indicator of the optimal angle that a ball should be hit. Launch angle is the angle
at which a ball exits the bat as soon as they connect with each other. The best
launch angles, which allow for line drives and home runs, are calculated to be
around 10–30 degrees North of East, relative to the bat. This allows for the
most optimal ball flight, usually necessary to hit the ball over 325 to 400 feet
over the fence
• Basketball
• Another example of projectile motion in sports is basketball. For a basketball
shot to enter the hoop, the basketball must be shot at a certain angle with a
certain amount of force. The optimal angle of a shot will vary depending on the
height from which the ball is shot and the player’s distance from the hoop.
According to Professor John Fontanella, the ideal angles from the free-throw
line will vary from 48.7 degrees to 52.2 degrees, with shorter players.
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For Any Query Feel Free To Contact Me
SAKSHAM HAJELA
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Tagore Public School, Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur RAJ
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