Winstanley College
GCSE to A Level Physical Education
Sports Biomechanics Pack
This includes core notes and suggested activities for
students.
GCSE PE Sports Biomechanics Stephen Brockley Winstanley College
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Topic 1: Levers.
Learners Must:
• Know the 3 classes of lever and their use in physical activity and sport;
o 1st Class – neck o 2nd Class – ankle o 3rd Class – elbow
• Know the definition of mechanical advantage.
A lever is a rigid structure allowing movement. Consider the pictures above and write in the box the common features of a lever system and how do they work?
There are 4 main features to a lever.
1. Lever.
2. Fulcrum.
3. Effort.
4. Load.
Consider how an athlete completes a Biceps Curl to apply the principle of a lever system to the human body?
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GCSE PE Sports Biomechanics Stephen Brockley Winstanley College
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Types of levers: Definition of levers (video) There are three orders of lever system depending on where the fulcrum is placed. There are examples in the human body of all three however some are more commonly used than others.
An easy way to remember the order:
Read out load: One, Two, Three. F, L, E. One, Two, Three. F, L, E.
All levers have a Fulcrum (F) an Effort (E) and a Load (L). The rhyme above helps you remember which component is in the middle.
1. 1st class levers have the Fulcrum in the middle. 2. 2nd class levers have the Load in the middle. 3. 3rd class levers have the Effort in the middle.
One, Two, Three. F, L, E. One, Two, Three. F, L, E.
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GCSE PE Sports Biomechanics Stephen Brockley Winstanley College
Summary of Levers:
In the human body the type of lever used will have advantages and disadvantages in terms of speed of motion, force production and stability. This can depend on the length of the:
a) Effort Arm = the distance between the Effort and the Fulcrum b) Load Arm = the distance between the Load and the Fulcrum
Define the following key terms:
Mechanical Advantage:
Effort arm (a) > Load Arm (b) b
Levers: Extension Work (not on GSCE Spec)
Mechanical Disadvantage:
Load arm (b) > Effort Arm (a)
Lever Order of: fulcrum/effort/load
Sporting example in human body
Extension Work: Advantages
Extension Work: Disadvantages
1
2
3
a
GCSE PE Sports Biomechanics Stephen Brockley Winstanley College
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Topic 2: Planes of movement and Axes of rotation.
Planes of Movement: Definition of planes of motion (video)
All movements performed by the body are carried out across three dimensions. These dimensions are the planes of movement and divide the body using imaginary lines (flat planes)
Superior
Inferior
Transverse Plane: The transverse plane lies
horizontally and divides the body
into the top (superior) and bottom
(inferior) parts.
Movements through the transverse
plane are Rotational movements.
Frontal Plane:
The frontal plane lies
vertically and divides the
body into front (anterior)
and back (posterior)
parts.
Movements through the
frontal plane are sideways
movements of Abduction
and Adduction.
Anterior
Posterior
Sagittal Plane:
The sagittal plane also lies
vertically and is known as the
median plane. The plane divides
the body into right and left parts.
Movements through the sagittal
plane are up and down
movements of flexion and
extension.
GCSE PE Sports Biomechanics Stephen Brockley Winstanley College
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Match the planes of movement with the correct description.
Plane
Description
Horizontal/Vertical
Frontal
Divides the body into the left and right hand sides
Horizontal
Transverse
Divides the body into the top and
bottom
Vertical
Sagittal
Divides the body
into front and back parts
Vertical
Match the movement term to the correct description below.
Movement term
Description
1
Abduction
2
Adduction
3
Anterior
4
Circumduction
5
Extension
6
Flexion
7
Inferior
8
Posterior
9
Rotation
10
Superior
Movement pattern in the transverse plane across the longitudinal axis.
Movement pattern consisting of flexion, extension, abduction and adduction.
Movement that refers to the back of the body.
A part of the body/structure higher that another.
Movement towards the midline of the body.
Movement that involves bending of a joint (The angle decreasing between the articulating bones involved).
Movement that refers to the front of the body.
A part of the body/structure lower than another (The knee being inferior to the ankle).
Movement away from the midline of the body.
Movement that involves straightening of a joint. The angle increases between the articulating bones involved.
GCSE PE Sports Biomechanics Stephen Brockley Winstanley College
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Identify and describe the dominant plane of movement for the following.
Plane of Movement: ………………………….
Description:
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Plane of Movement: ………………………….
Description:
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Plane of Movement: ………………………….
Description:
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Design a circuit training programme that includes two exercises for each of the three planes of movement.
Exercise Dominant plane of movement Description of movement
e.g. Squat
Sagittal
Flexion and Extension
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GCSE PE Sports Biomechanics Stephen Brockley Winstanley College
Axes of rotation: Definition of axes of rotation (video)
An axis is an imaginary straight line around which a body or part of a body rotates. Movement at a joint takes place in a plane about an axis. There are three axes of rotation.
Transverse Axis
The transverse axis passes
horizontally from left to right.
Movements about this axis
include a somersault and flexion
and extension of the elbow.
Longitudinal Axis
The longitudinal axis is also
known as the vertical axis and
passes vertically from the
bottom to the top.
Movements about this axis
include rotation.
Frontal Axis
The frontal axis passes
horizontally from back to front.
Movements about this axis
include lateral and medial rotation
of the spine.
Movements in the body are described as being through planes of movement about axis of rotation.
It is important that you do not get them confused but can apply them together.
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GCSE PE Sports Biomechanics Stephen Brockley Winstanley College
Identify and describe the dominant axis of rotation for the following for the following:
Axis of Rotation: ………………………….
Description:
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Axis of Rotation: ………………………….
Description:
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Axis of Rotation: ………………………….
Description:
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Combining your knowledge of Planes of Movement and Axis of Rotation
Frontal Plane
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GCSE PE Sports Biomechanics Stephen Brockley Winstanley College
Combine your knowledge of planes of motion and axis of rotation to complete the following table.
Skill Dominant plane of Movement Dominant axis of rotation
E.g. Tucked front Somersault
Sagittal
Transverse
Star Jumps
100m sprint
Bicep curls
Cartwheel
Pirouette
Answers to tasks can be found here - http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-physical-education-j587-from-2016/