Basic Exercise Biomechanics Terminology

Front

Force

Back

Strength or energy exerted or brought to bear: cause of motion or change: active power.

Front

Velocity

Back

The speed of something in a given direction.

Front

Acceleration

Back

The rate of change of velocity with respect to time.

Front

Mass

Back

The quantity of matter within a given object.

Front

Torque

Back

A twisting force that tends to cause rotation.

Front

Tension

Back

The amount of force built up within a muscle.

Front

Elasticity

Back

A material's ability to return to its original shape and size after being deformed by an external force.

Front

Newton's 1st Law (Law of Inertia)

Back

An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays at a constant speed and in a straight line unless acted on by an unbalanced force.

Front

Newton's 2nd Law (Force = mass x acceleration)

Back

The net force acting on an object is equal to the object's mass multiplied by its acceleration.

Front

Newton's 3rd Law (Action & Reaction)

Back

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.