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Biomechanical Principles and Levers

Lever classes and mechanical advantage

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 2

Overview

First, second and third-class levers in sporting actions, mechanical advantage and disadvantage, and a worked mechanical advantage calculation.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Name the three components of a lever.

Key term

How is a first-class lever arranged?

Key term

Give an example of a first-class lever in the body during sport.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Name the three components of a lever.

    Model answer

    A lever has a fulcrum, an effort and a load. In the body, the joint is the fulcrum, muscles supply the effort and the load is the weight being moved.

  2. 2

    How is a first-class lever arranged?

    Model answer

    A first-class lever has the fulcrum between the effort and the load.

  3. 3

    Give an example of a first-class lever in the body during sport.

    Model answer

    Extension of the neck, as when heading a football, is a first-class lever. The top of the spine is the fulcrum, the head's weight is the load and the neck extensors supply the effort.

  4. 4

    Which lever operates at the elbow during extension, such as an overhead throw?

    Model answer

    Elbow extension is a first-class lever. The elbow joint is the fulcrum, lying between the triceps pulling on the olecranon and the load at the hand.

  5. 5

    How is a second-class lever arranged?

    Model answer

    A second-class lever has the load between the fulcrum and the effort. The effort arm is always longer than the resistance arm.

  6. 6

    Which lever operates at the ankle as a sprinter drives off the blocks?

    Model 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.

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