PRELIMINARY HSC

PDHPE
CQ3 – How do biomechanical principles
influence movement?
 How do biomechanical principles influence
movement?
Students learn about: Students learn to:

 motion  apply principles of motion to enhance performance through

 the application of linear motion, velocity, speed, participation in practical workshops
acceleration, momentum in movement and
performance contexts

 balance and stability  apply principles of balance and stability to enhance

 centre of gravity performance through participation in practical workshops
 line of gravity
 base of support

 fluid mechanics  apply principles of fluid mechanics to enhance

 flotation, centre of buoyancy performance through participation in practical
 fluid resistance workshops
   describe how principles of fluid mechanics
have influenced changes in movement and
performance, eg technique modification,
clothing/suits, equipment/apparatus
 

 force  apply principles of force to enhance performance through

 how the body applies force participation in practical workshops.
 how the body absorbs force
 applying force to an object.
 Fluid mechanics
 Fluid mechanics refers to forces that operate in water and air
environments. These forces will affect how well we can move
through the water (either in a vessel or as a swimmer) or how
we can move ourselves or projectiles through the air. Two
important forces influence our ability to perform effectively in
a water environment: buoyant force and drag force.
 flotation, centre of buoyancy
Flotation
 Two forces operate on a body in a fluid environment to

determine its buoyancy (ability to float).

 These forces are the buoyant force that pushes the body up

and the weight force that pulls the body down (gravity).
Archimedes’ Principle states that a body that is partially or
totally immersed in a fluid will experience buoyancy that is
equal to the weight of the volume of fluid displaced by that
body. So, if the buoyant force is greater than the weight
force, the body will float. Conversely, if the buoyant force is
less than the weight force, the body will sink.
flotation, centre of buoyancy
 fluid resistance
Fluid resistance
 Forces act on us when we attempt to propel

ourselves through a fluid environment. These

forces include drag force and lift force. Elite
athletes understand and use these forces in a way
that will benefit the efficiency of their
performance.
 Drag
 Drag force is sometimes referred to as resistance, and is the
resistance that acts against a body as it moves through a fluid
environment. Friction occurs when one body (for example, a hand
or oar) moves across the surface of another (for example, water).
Friction will always oppose motion. A difference in pressure occurs
to the opposing sides of the body in the water and this acts to
propel the body forward. When swimming, a low-pressure area is
created in front of the hand and a corresponding high-pressure
area forms behind the hand. As the hand pushes the water back,
the drag forces propel the body forward (see Figure 6.13). Fast
swimmers or paddlers create a greater pressure differential by
utilising skills such as streamlining and pitching the entry of their
hands to ensure the water surface is cut cleanly. This prevents air
bubbles from being trapped or dragged through the water.
 Lift
 Lift force is often referred to as hydrodynamic lift force when
created in the water. It is much greater than that lift created in
air, as water is denser. This force occurs perpendicular to the
flow of the water over the body when swimming. When
performing an eggbeater kick in water polo (see Figure 6.14),
hydrodynamic lift force is created as the legs alternately circle
under the water creating pressure differences between the
top and bottom of the leg and foot. The lift force acts to push
the athlete upwards. Swimmers experience a lift force as they
stroke the water, as the flow of water over the hands creates a
forward lift force that is equal to the force exerted by the
swimmer, thus pushing the athlete to the surface.
 The Magnus effect
 The Magnus effect (see Figure 6.15) occurs when a
spinning object creates a whirlpool of rotating air or
liquid around it. Velocity increases on one side of the
object, where the fluid travels in the same direction as
the whirlpool. As the velocity of a fluid increases, the
pressure exerted by the fluid will decrease. The
opposite side of the object experiences decreased
velocity as the motion of the whirlpool is reversed. This
creates spin and makes it difficult for an opponent to
read the direction of flight and respond accordingly
The Magnus effect
 How the principles of fluid mechanics have
influenced performance

 In our technological age, the study of the principles of fluid

mechanics has influenced the performances of our elite athletes.
This knowledge has influenced the design of performance clothing,
equipment and the environments in which competition takes place.
Much controversy has surrounded the use of ‘fast skin’ swimsuits,
especially in view of the number of world records that has fallen
since their inception. The revolutionary design resulted in decreased
drag and increased buoyancy for the athlete and, as results have
proven, unprecedented improvement in performance at the elite
level of swimming. Following the 2008 Olympic Games, the
international swimming body, FINA, investigated the use of high-
tech suits and has placed regulations on their use to ensure no unfair
advantage is gained through the use of technology.
 How the principles of fluid mechanics have
influenced performance

 The training focus at elite level also evolved to see

athletes spend as much as 50 per cent of their time
in the pool refining the technical aspects of kicking,
pulling, breathing and body position in an attempt to
reduce drag and maximise the lift force to produce
more efficient movement. The advent of video-
analysis of stroke count, splits, turns and take-offs
has resulted in athletes developing a better
understanding of the relationship between the
acting forces and their personal performance.
 How the principles of fluid mechanics have
influenced performance

 Equipment and the racing environment have also

changed to counteract the negative effects of fluid
mechanics. Olympic pools are now 10 lanes wide,
keeping the two outside lanes free. Pool edges
feature gutters that are flush with the water surface.
Plastic buoys that divide lanes are designed to direct
water downward and not outward. These
modifications stop excessive wave motion.
Revision/Homework task
Answer/complete the following statements/questions:

 describe how principles of fluid mechanics have influenced

changes in movement and performance, eg technique
modification, clothing/suits, equipment/apparatus