Question 1: Explain how the force of gravity affects a person performing a jump. Include in your answer what happens during the take-off and landing phases.

Answer: During take-off, gravity acts downward, opposing the upward force generated by the legs. As the jumper pushes off the ground, gravity pulls them back down during the flight phase. During landing, gravity causes the body to accelerate downward, and muscles must absorb the impact to prevent injury.

Question 2: Describe the role of levers in human movement, providing an example of a lever in the body and explaining which parts act as the effort, load, and fulcrum.

Answer: Levers in the body help to amplify force and facilitate movement. An example is the forearm during a bicep curl: the fulcrum is the elbow joint, the effort is applied by the biceps muscle, and the load is the weight in the hand. This arrangement allows the biceps to lift heavier objects efficiently.

Question 3: Identify and explain two ways in which joint type influences movement, giving a specific example for each.

Answer: Hinge joints, like the knee, allow movement in one plane (flexion and extension), enabling activities like running. Ball-and-socket joints, like the shoulder, allow movement in multiple planes (flexion, extension, rotation), facilitating complex movements like throwing.

Question 4: Discuss why understanding the concept of range of motion (ROM) is important for preventing injury during physical activity.

Answer: Understanding ROM helps athletes avoid overstretching or forcing joints beyond their limits, which can cause strains or sprains. It also allows for proper warm-up and stretching, enhancing performance and reducing injury risk.

Question 5: Describe how the principle of levers can be used to improve the efficiency of a sports movement, such as a tennis serve or a golf swing.

Answer: Using levers effectively allows athletes to generate more force with less effort. For example, in a tennis serve, the arm acts as a lever, where proper timing and positioning of effort (muscle force) and fulcrum (elbow joint) maximize racket speed and power.

Question 6: Draw a simple diagram of a first-class lever in the human body, labeling the effort, load, and fulcrum. Indicate what movement this lever type produces.

Answer: A correct sketch would depict a lever with the fulcrum in the middle, effort applied at one end, and load at the other. An example is nodding the head, where the fulcrum is the neck joint, effort is applied by neck muscles, and load is the weight of the head. The movement is flexion or extension.

Question 7: Explain the difference between isotonic and isometric muscle contractions, providing an example of each in physical activity.

Answer: Isotonic contractions involve muscle length change during movement, such as lifting a weight (concentric) or lowering it (eccentric). Isometric contractions involve no change in muscle length, such as holding a plank position.

Question 8: Identify the main biomechanical factor that influences the speed of a long-distance runner and explain how it affects performance.

Answer: Stride length and stride frequency are key factors. Increasing stride length and maintaining a high cadence allow the runner to cover more ground efficiently, improving speed. Proper biomechanics minimize energy wastage and reduce fatigue.

Question 9: Describe what a 'centre of mass' is and explain its significance in maintaining balance during a movement such as a gymnastics routine or a dance pose.

Answer: The centre of mass is the point where the body's mass is concentrated. Maintaining it over the base of support is essential for balance. In gymnastics or dance, adjusting body position to keep the centre of mass within the support base prevents falling.