2. Mechanics of movement
M Vectors and scalars; velocity,
acceleration
a Momentum/impulse in sprinting
M Newton’s Laws applied to
movements
m Application of forces in sporting
activities
3.
4. Velocity during a 100m sprint
Timing point Distance Time to Time Average velocity
(displacement covered reach taken for for each 10m
in metres) (Metres) this point this 10m section =
(seconds) section displacement/time
(seconds) (ms)
Start 0 0 0 0/0 = 0
10 10
20 10
30 10
40 10
50 10
60 10
70 10
80 10
90 10
100 10
5. Plot your velocity/displacement graph
Now mark on your graph where the runner is at their highest acceleration, zero acceleration and when they are decelerating
6. (i) Use the figure to determine the velocity of the sprinter after 3 seconds, and identify
the period of time when the sprinter’s acceleration was the greatest.(2 marks)
(ii)What is happening to the sprinter between 6 and 11 seconds? Explain why this
occurs. (3 marks)
8. Provide a definition and state whether it is a vector or a scalar
Vector
Term Definition or
scalar?
Displacement
Velocity
Acceleration
Vector
Scalar
Deceleration
Speed
13. You are going to explain Newton’s laws and their application to sporting situations.
Your partner will mark your explanation based upon the accuracy of your presentation.
Attempt Attempt Attempt
1 2 3
The 1st Law of Inertia
“ a body will remain in it’s state of motion/rest until
affected by a force acting upon it”
An example: A football being kicked, a sprinter in the
start blocks and a snooker ball prior to being hit
Every moving object has mass and velocity
Momentum = mass x velocity
The 2nd Law of Acceleration
“The rate of change of momentum is directly proportional
to the force causing the change, and the change takes
place in the direction in which the force was applied”
In sport, mass remains constant and so momentum
equates to acceleration
Example: The magnitude and direction of the force
applied by the sprinter in the blocks will determine the
magnitude and direction of the force received
(acceleration)
The 3rd Law of reaction
“for every action there is an opposite and equal action
force”
In sport this is usually the performer and the ground
The performer cannot move the earth but receives
significant acceleration
This is called Ground Reaction Force
Full example from sprinting
The athlete remains at constant velocity, at rest, in his
blocks at the start of a race due to Newton’s First Law –
the Law of Inertia. In order for him to accelerate an
external force must be applied.
As the athlete uses his muscles to generate a force into
the blocks/ground there will be an equal an opposite
reaction force pushing him forwards, due to Newton’s
Third Law – the Action-Reaction Law.
This resultant force is the external force required to
overcome the inertia (Newton’s 1st Law) and the athlete
accelerates from the blocks.
The acceleration of the athlete is in direct proportion to
the size of the resultant external force due to Newton’s
Second Law – the Law of Acceleration. The acceleration
can be calculated using the formula F=ma.
15. Forces kicking a ball
Use Newton’s Three Laws of Motion to explain how a tennis player moves towards the
ball in preparation to play a stroke (5 marks)
16. Jan 05 Question 4
(b) Figure 2 shows a velocity/time graph for an elite 100-metre runner.
Figure 2
(i) Use Figure 2 to determine the velocity of the sprinter after 3 seconds,
and identify the period of time when the sprinter’s acceleration was the
greatest. (2 marks)
Jan 07 Qu 3
Elite sports performers need to develop power of both the body and the mind in order
to be successful. The major leg muscles used in the drive phase of sprinting are the
gastrocnemius, quadriceps, gluteals and hamstrings. Exactly the same muscles groups
are also used in high jumping.
(a)Explain, using the idea of vectors, how these same muscle groups can produce both
maximal horizontal motion and maximal vertical motion. (5 marks)
17. Jun 2002 Qu 2
(a) Figure 2 shows performers bout to start a swimming race. Use this situation to
explain Newton’s three Laws of motion. (6 marks)
18. Jun 2003 Qu 5
(c) Figure 5 identifies the changes in horizontal linear velocity experienced by a puck that
has been struck by an ice hockey stick and then collides with, and rebounds from, the end
wall.
Describe and explain the horizontal motion of the puck associated with each of
the time periods identified as A, B, C, D and E in the graph. (7 marks)
19. Jan 05 Question 4
(c) Identify the forces A-E in Figure 3 that act on the sprinter during a race. (3
marks)
