This text offers a practical approach to biomechanics and motion analysis by illustrating mechanical and mathematical principles with real-world examples. The book explains the principles of mechanics and covers all aspects of kinematics and kinetics. Basic principles are illustrated with actual data obtained in laboratory settings. Case studies in each chapter present real situations to provide a deeper understanding of the principles. Each chapter ends with study questions. Mathematics is restricted to the essentials and many advanced calculations are performed using spreadsheet calculations. More than 250 illustrations complement the text.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Scalar Quantities and Vector Quantities in Biomechanics 1.1 Scalars and Vectors 1.2 Addition of Scalars 1.3 Addition of Vectors 1.4 Parallelogram Rule 1.5 Resolution of Vectors into Components 1.6 Unit Vectors I, J, K 1.7 Scalar Products of Two Vectors 1.8 Vector Products of Two Vectors Chapter 2. Linear Kinematics 2.1 The Law of Inertia 2.2 Methods of Measuring an Object's Speed or Velocity 2.3 Graphical Means of Deriving Velocity 2.4 Equations for Speed and Velocity 2.5 Acceleration as the Slope of V-T Graph 2.6 Frames of Reference 2.7 Projectiles Chapter 3. Equilibrium 3.1 The Effect of Friction 3.2 Moments of Forces 3.3 Parallel Forces 3.4 Centre of Gravity 3.5 Couples 3.6 Bodies at Rest 3.7 Equilibrium Under the Action of Two Forces 3.8 The Centre of Mass of a Stationary Body 3.9 Equilibrium Under the Action of Three Forces 3.10 Hydrostatics and Flotation Chapter 4. Motion in a Straight Line (Dynamics I) 4.1 Inertia and Mass 4.2 Force 4.3 Newton's First Law 4.4 Gravitational Forces 4.5 Newton's Second Law 4.6 The Acceleration due to Gravity and Weight 4.7 Newton's Third Law 4.8 Friction 4.9 The Momentum of a Body 4.10 Projectile Motion Taking into Account The Drag Force Chapter 5. Dynamics 5.1 Work Done by a Constant Force 5.2 Work Done by a Variable Force 5.3 Kinetic Energy 5.4 Gravitational Potential Energy 5.5 Conservation of Energy 5.6 Power 5.7 Impulsive Forces 5.8 Collisions in One Dimension 5.9 Conservation of Momentum 5.10 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions 5.11 Springs and Hooke's Law 5.12 Oscillatory Motion Chapter 6. Motion in a Circle (Angular Kinetics) 6.1 Angular Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration 6.2 Absolute Angles and Relative Angles 6.3 Calculation of Angular Information from (X, Y) Coordinate Data 6.4 Important Equations in Angular Kinematics Chapter 7. Angular Dynamics 7.1 Angular Motion Vectors 7.2 Torque 7.3 Rotational Inertia 7.4 Easy Ways to Find the Moment of Inertia 7.5 Angular Momentum 7.6 Angular Kinetic Energy Chapter 8. Calculations Using Text or ASCII Files 8.1 Text Files 8.2 Coordinate-Time Data 8.3 Obtaining Velocities and Accelerations 8.4 Noise and Smoothing Chapter 9. Mechanical Analyses 9.1 The Camera System 9.2 Force Plates and Additional Sensors 9.3 Standing Long Jump 9.4 High Jump 9.5 Running Chapter 10. Analysis of Specialized Movement Patterns Using Vicon 10.1 Golf 10.2 Gymnastics 10.3 Football
