Introduction to Sports Biomechanics: Analysing Human Movement ...

INTRODUCTION TO SPORTS BIOMECHANICS
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movements that do not involve twisting, including the transfer of angular
momentum between body segments. Repeat for movements involving twisting;
consider in particular the ways in which the performers generate twist in somersaulting
movements.
Hint: You should reread the section on ‘Generation and control of angular
momentum’ (pages 195–201) before undertaking this task.
6 (a) Outline how you would statically calibrate a force plate, how you would check
for variability of the recorded force with its point of application on the plate
surface, how you would check for crosstalk, and how you would check the
accuracy of centre of pressure calculations.
(b) Describe two ways in which you might be able to synchronise the recording of
forces from a force plate with a video recording of the movement. This may
require some careful thought.
Hint: You may wish to reread the subsection on ‘Experimental procedures’ in
‘Measurement of force’ (pages 209–10) before undertaking this task.
7 If you have access to a force plate, perform an experiment involving a standing
broad (long) jump from the plate, with arm countermovements. [If you do not have
access to a force plate, you will find an Excel spreadsheet containing force plate data
from a broad jump on this book’s website. From the recorded force components, see
if you can obtain the other data that were covered in the subsection on ‘Data
processing’ in ‘Measurement of force’ (pages 210–13). If your force plate software
supports all the processing options for these data, perform these calculations for all
three force channels. Compare the results you obtain with those of Figure 5.25.
Hint: You should reread the subsection on ‘Data processing’ (pages 210–13) and
revisit Study task 2 before undertaking this task.
8 Visit the book’s website and look at the various examples there – from pressure
plates and insoles – of the movement patterns available to a qualitative movement
analyst. Assess which of these you think could be of routine use to a qualitative
analyst and which are best thought of as back-up information that might occasionally
be useful.
Hint: You might wish to reread relevant sections on movement patterns in Chapter
3 before undertaking this task.
You should also answer the multiple choice questions for Chapter 5 on the book’s
website.
GLOSSARY OF IMPORTANT TERMS (compiled by Dr Melanie Bussey)
Bernoulli’s principle A low-pressure zone is created in a region of high fluid flow
velocity, and a high-pressure zone is created in a region of low fluid flow velocity.
Boundary layer The thin layer of fluid that is adjacent to the surface of a body moving
through the fluid. The fluid flow in the boundary layer may be laminar flow or
turbulent flow.