Biomechanical Principles and Levers | AQA A-Level Physical Education (7582)
Biomechanical Principles and Levers
- 60 questions
- 4 subtopics
- Paper 2: Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity and sport
- Paper 2
Biomechanical Principles and Levers is examined in Paper 2, Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity and sport.
It covers newton's laws of linear motion, speed, distance and scalar quantities, centre of mass and stability and lever classes and mechanical advantage.
Sample questions from Biomechanical Principles and Levers
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Newton's laws of linear motion
What is inertia, and how is it related to mass?
Show the answer
Inertia is the resistance of a body to a change in its state of motion. The greater the mass, the greater the inertia. -
Newton's laws of linear motion
A net force of 450 N acts on a 90 kg rugby player. What is the player's acceleration?
Show the answer
The acceleration is 5 m s⁻². Acceleration = force ÷ mass = 450 N ÷ 90 kg = 5 m s⁻². -
Speed, distance and scalar quantities
A sprinter runs 100 m in 10.0 s. What is the average speed?
Show the answer
The average speed is 10.0 m s⁻¹. Speed = 100 m ÷ 10.0 s = 10.0 m s⁻¹. -
Speed, distance and scalar quantities
Describe the distance–time graph for a runner moving at constant speed.
Show the answer
The graph is a straight line sloping upwards. The constant gradient shows the speed is not changing. -
Centre of mass and stability
Define stability.
Show the answer
Stability is the ability of a body to resist being moved from a balanced position. A stable body returns to balance after being disturbed. -
Centre of mass and stability
Why does a sprinter in the set position deliberately become less stable?
Show the answer
The sprinter raises the hips and shifts the line of gravity forwards, towards the edge of the base of support. The sprinter can then move off quickly when the gun fires. -
Lever classes and mechanical advantage
Which lever operates at the ankle as a sprinter drives off the blocks?
Show the answer
A second-class lever operates at the ankle during plantar flexion. The ball of the foot is the fulcrum, body weight is the load and the gastrocnemius supplies the effort. -
Lever classes and mechanical advantage
Why does a third-class lever have a mechanical disadvantage?
Show the answer
The effort arm is shorter than the resistance arm, so a large effort is needed to move a small load.
The 4 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Newton's laws of linear motion | Forces and their effects, balanced and unbalanced forces, Newton's three laws applied to sprinting, bobsleigh and swimming, inertia, ground reaction force and worked F = ma calculations. | 15 |
| Speed, distance and scalar quantities | Scalar quantities, distance and speed, worked speed calculations for sprints, laps and a marathon, and distance–time graphs. | 14 |
| Centre of mass and stability | The centre of mass and how it moves, the high jump, stability and the factors affecting it, the line of gravity, and stable positions in sprinting, netball and the scrum. | 14 |
| Lever classes and mechanical advantage | First, second and third-class levers in sporting actions, mechanical advantage and disadvantage, and a worked mechanical advantage calculation. | 17 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
AQA A-Level Physical Education Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 2,084 questions with their answers.