Lesson
Angular Kinetics - continued
TORQUE and its EFFECT on EQUILIBRIUM and LEVERS
LEVERS in the HUMAN BODY
In the HUMAN BODY, most muscle-bone levers are of the THIRD CLASS, with MA < 1
This promotes range of Motion and Angular Speed of Body Segment Motion BUT
Large muscle forces have to be generated to overcome resistance.
ATHLETES utilize the MOMENT ARM LENGTH concept by INCREASING the
EFFECTIVE MOMENT ARM. For instance, a BASEBALL PITCH or TENNIS SERVE
might be made not only with the ARM FULLY EXTENDED but also the BODY
ROTATING in the TRANSVERSE PLANE making the SPINE the AXIS of ROTATION,
thus maximizing the length of the anatomical lever.
The LONGER the RADIUS of ROTATION, the GREATER the LINEAR VELOCITY of
the hand or racquet involved with the ball, and thus the greater the eventual velocity of
the ball.