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Physics of Gymnastics |
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My daughter, Anna, is in gymnastics, so I wanted to know how physics help her do handstands, flips, jumps, bar, beam and vault. I discovered that physic is the basic of gymnastics. The main physics used in gymnastics are the three Newton's Laws of Motion and Impulse Theory.
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Newton's First Law of Motion states that an object has to have an act of unbalanced force for it to change its state of rest or motion. In other words for Anna to change her body position she must make it move. |
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This first law is used mainly on the bars and beam. On the bars, the way Anna uses Newton's First Law of Motion is by starting at a rest, and then she must swing her legs to get her momentum to complete her back hip circle. On the beam, Anna uses this law on her scale. She must lift her leg and raise her chest to keep her balance, and then she brings her leg down and balances on the beam. |
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Newton's Second Law of Motion states that the speed of an object varies according to the external force applied and its mass. Newton's second law is used mainly in vault, flips, and jumps. |
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The vault uses the second law by the speed Anna runs down the vaulting strip. The second law also helps Anna reach dynamics and height in her flips and jumps. |
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Newton's Third Law of Motion states that every action has a force and there must be an equal about of source from the other direction receiving the force. This law helps Anna with the beam, leaps, flips, tumbles, and dismounts. |
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The third law helps Anna on the beam with her dismount, leaps, and flips. The beam is giving Anna the same amount of force back that she is applying to it. The law helps Anna on the floor when she does her flips and tumbles because the mat is giving her the same amount of force back that she is giving it. |
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There is another theory that Anna uses in gymnastics and that is the Impulse Momentum Theory. This theory states that the product of unbalance force is multiplied by the time period. This theory helps dismounts and prevents from injuries. There is a formula for this theory. The formula is: unbalance force multiplied by time (impulse) is equal to mass times change in velocity (momentum change). |
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Because of the Impulse Theory, Anna bends her legs when she dismounts. She bends her legs to absorb the dismount; therefore she is increasing her time to complete the landing. This is also used on Anna's floor momentum. She has to do a round off before doing backhand springs or anything free handed. The round off is the way she increases her speed. |
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I have learned a great deal about how physics affect Anna's gymnasts. I also have a better understanding of how she is able to do gymnasts. |
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