HMSV322: Biomechanics II
Assignment outline 2022
Due date: 14 November 2022 @ 16:30
______________________________________________________________________________________
Sport and exercise scientists often film individuals in order to undertake qualitative and quantitative
analysis of motion. Quantitative analysis involves recording numerical information from the film and often
calculating further variables that describe the motion.
Aim:
The following assignment will test your knowledge and understanding of biomechanics specifically with
associating kinematics and biomechanical characteristics linked to a movement sequence. The primary aim
is to orientate you to the process of digitizing and analysing movements namely the squat jump (SJ) and
countermovement jump (CMJ) using freely available motion analysis software. You will learn and integrate
the use of motion analysis software in retrieving kinematic information for two movements in order to
determine whether there is a similarity in the movements as well as learn to calculate relevant kinematic
and kinetic variables using movement digitization.
Instructions:
You are required to conduct a 2D motion analysis of two videos, linked on Moodle, using the Tracker
motion analysis software (link available for download on Moodle). You will then analyse the data using
Microsoft Excel (template available on Moodle) and finally, answer the required questions. Please
remember to show all calculations where necessary.
This assignment can be completed in pairs, with each member of the pair completing 1 video digitization
and answering all questions for the movement they digitized. If you are working alone, you will need to
complete Section 1 and 2 for both videos, and but only do the calculations (Section 3 and 4) for 1 video.
Clearly indicate which video you are answer the post-processing questions for.
1. Objectives:
Using the Tracker motion analysis software, track/ digitize the following:
1.1 Label and track each of the following points: shoulder, hip, knee ankle, floor marker, as
demonstrated in the recorded videos linked on Moodle.
1.2 Track the knee and hip angles, as well as insert a tape measure from the floor to the hip, in
order to calculate the vertical height jumped.
1.3 The vertical and horizontal position vs time of a squat jump (SJ) and a countermovement jump
(CMJ).
1.4 Knee angle and hip angle for each jump.
Note:
- In the squat jump video, you will start digitizing from frame 28-78 (50 frames)
- In the Countermovement jump video, you will start digitizing from frame 49-99 (50 frames)
2. Data analysis: (12)
Copy and paste the following data from Tracker, onto the appropriate Excel sheet for further analysis.
2.1 Hip and knee angles for both jumps. (2)
2.2 Hip and knee vertical position vs time graphs for each jump. (2)
2.3 Hip and knee horizontal position vs time graphs for each jump. (2)
2.4 Using the “Analyze” function in Tracker, take a snapshot of each of the graphs generated and
paste into the appropriate excel sheet. (6)
3. Calculations (show all calculation steps):
3.1 Count the number of frames between take-off (when feet leave the ground) and landing (when feet
first touch the floor, then determine the flight time. Note that there are 25 frames per second, so each
frame takes 0.04s. Which of the two jumps has the longest flight time? Compare this with your partner
or calculate this for both jumps if you are working on your own. (2)
3.3 Using the vertical position vs time data (y) calculate the following using the central differences method.
(2)
3.2.1 SJ – Frame 70
3.2.2 CMJ – Frame 90
3.4 Comment on whether you answer corresponds with the data generated in tracker. Remember the
( y+ 1 )−( y−1)
correct equation is (not 2∆ t as shown in the slides).
∆t
(2)
Eg. Calculate the velocity in frame 230
frame t Y - position
229 2.05 0.7157
230 2.0600000000000005 0.7161
231 2.07 0.7176
( y+ 1 )−( y−1) (0.7176)−(0.7157) 0.0019
= = =0.095 m/s
∆t 2.07−2.05 0.02
3.5 We can use the kinematic data to determine an estimate of the amount of force generated by the
athlete, which could indicate how much work they did as well as how much power they have in order
to determine this, do the following calculations:
3.5.1 Find the time point at which maximum knee flexion occurred. (1)
3.5.2 Find the time point at which take-off occurred. (1)
3.5.3 Subtract the knee flexion time from the take-off time to determine how long a force was applied
to the ground before take-off. (1)
3.5.4 Using the impulse-momentum relationship, determine the force applied to the ground jump if
the athlete has a mass of 88kg. (The Excel template has calculated the take-off velocity for you).
(2)
3.5.5 Determine the amount of work the athlete did during the jump (1)
3.5.6 Calculate their power output (P = w/t) OR (Power = Fv) (1)
4. Recommendations
Based on your knowledge of jumping and what you have seen on the videos, comment on ways I which this
athlete can improve their jump performance. You may comment on the differences you saw between to
jumps to support your recommendations. (5)
Rubric:
Outcome Mark allocation
2. Data analysis 12 marks
3. Calculations: 13 marks
Show all calculations. I will accept handwritten or typed notes.
4. Recommendation 5 marks
References: 3 marks
Provide references for any sources you consult in completing this task. You must
follow the Harvard referencing style.
Submission 12 marks
- Word document or hand-written document with calculations is uploaded.
- Excel spreadsheet is uploaded to Moodle with the corresponding tracker
graphs copied to each sheet.
- Documents are saved correctly as outlined in module guide
Total 45 Marks
Quick guide to using Tracker
1) Open Tracker motion analysis software.
2) Open your video from the location in which you saved it.
3) Click “video” then “Clip settings” to check the frame rate is set to 25 Frames per second.
4) On Clip settings check that you have the correct start and end frames for your analysis
5) Set the length of the video so your analysis only includes the required frames.
6) Set your calibration stick (black mark to black mark on floor = 1m)
7) Set the origin (x;y). Ensure that none of the movement points are to the left of the vertical origin
line, or below the horizontal origin line.
8) Ensure that the origin horizontal line is in alignment with the calibration stick.
9) Start tracking each of the required points by setting a new point mass for each point (hip, knee,
ankle, shoulder, floor.
10) Remember to name each point mass appropriately and change the colour so you can see this
easily.
11) To track each point manually click “Shift” and click with your mouse. This will give you a square
“cross-hairs”
12) To track automatically click “Shift + CTRL” this will give you a round “cross-hairs” target. Resize the
target area before clicking “Search” to auto track.
13) If the auto tracking stops, first check that the template matches the “match” and if they match click
“Accept”. If the “match” disappears on the top of the auto track panel and you only see the
template, click “Shift” to manually track the next point. Until you can see the match again and click
“search” again to continue auto-tracking.
14) Insert tape measure from floor to hip
15) Insert protractor to measure knee angle
16) Insert protractor to measure hip angle.
17) Remember to rename each protractor appropriately and change the colour to be easily seen.
18) To export data, select the correct variable from the drop down box above the data tab, then click
the top left hand cell, hold down the shift key, use your mouse to scroll down to the bottom of the
data, then click the bottom right cell. You can now copy this to Excel.
19) To generate a graph, right click on the columns in tracker and select “Analyze”. Select “Edit” then
“Copy” then “Image”. Go to Excel and paste this image to the correct sheet.
BIOMECHANICS EQUATIONS
Linear Motion
s v final −v initial
v= a=
t t 2−t 1
Angular Motion
angular displacement ω final −ω initial
ω= α=
t t final −t initial
Arc Length (s) Relationship between linear and angular
s=r ¿ θ movement
r = radius v=ω ¿ r
= angular displacement a=α ¿ r
Equations of uniformly accelerated motion
v final=v initial + a⋅t d=v initial⋅t + 1
2
⋅a⋅t 2
v 2final=v 2initial + 2⋅a⋅d d= 1 2⋅( v initial + v final )⋅t
Conservation of Momentum
⃗ptot =mA v iA +mB v iB =mA v fA +mB v fB
m A v iA + mB v iB=v f (m¿ ¿ A+ mB )¿
v i(m¿ ¿ A+ mB )=m A v fA +mB v fB ¿
Projectile Motion Projectile height and flight time
2
v ⋅sin 2 θ ( v⋅sin θ )2
R= H=
g 2⋅g
R = range or horizontal displacement 2⋅v⋅sinθ
v = resultant take-off or release velocity T=
g
= take-off or release angle
g = gravity constant
Weight and Force
W =m ¿ g F=m ¿ a
Impulse Momentum Impulse-Momentum Relationship
I=F ¿ t P=m ¿ v Ft=m(v final − v initial )
Opposite Adjacent Opposite
Sinθ= Cos θ= Tanθ=
Hypotenuse Hypotenuse Adjacent
Pythagoras rule:
Hypotenuse 2 ¿ Opposite 2 + Adjacent 2
Work & Power Friction
W =F ∙ d ∙ cosθ F f =μ k × F N
Power
Work
Power= OR Power = Force x velocity
Time
Energy Work energy relationship
Gravitational energy: EGPE =mgh Work done=E Final−E Initial
1 2 Therefore
Strain energy: E SE= k d
2
1
Linear Kinetic energy: E LKE = m v
2
F ∙ d= ( 12 m. v ) −( 12 m. v )
2
Final
2
Initial
2
1 2
Rotational kinetic energy: E RKE = I ω
2
Conservation of mechanical energy Torque:
EGPE + E LKE+ E RKE = total mechanical E Where τ =F . ⊥ d
total mechanical energy is a constant
Mechanical advantage:
Force distance (moment arm)
Mechanical Advantage ( MA )=
Resistance distance (moment arm)
Moment of inertia:
2
I =m r
2 2 2 2
Moment of Inertia A=m1 r 1 +m2 r 2+ m3 r 3 +…+ mn r n
Angular momentum: L = I x ω(rads/s)
Center of Mass:
∑ Moments=F A . d A + F B . d B + F C .d C
Center of gravity
x 1 . m1+ x2 . m2+ x 3 . m3 + x 4 . m4
x COM =
m1 +m2+ m3+ m4
y 1 . m1 + y 2 . m2 + y 3 . m3 + y 4 .m4
y COM =
m1 +m2+ m3 + m4
