BIOMECHANICS QSU3063

ANGULAR KINETICS MOMENTUM

NAME: MOHD FAIZAL BIN SUHAIMI
ID.NUMBER: D20141066454
GROUP: D
P.NUMBER: 013-7144072
PROGRAMME: AT03 ISMP SAINS SUKAN
LEC.NAME: ENCIK ALI BIN MD NADZALAN
Examples on angular momentum (g = 9.81 m.s-2)

(1) A gymnast takes off with sufficient angular momentum to complete a somersault in
the straight position.

However sometime after takeoff he moves from a straight

position into a tucked position and then straightens again before landing.

He

completes a double somersault. If the time of flight is 1.0 s, how much time is spent
in each position? The moments of inertia about the mass centre in the tucked and
straight positions are 3.0 and 9.0 kg.m2.

Angular momentum straight = angular momentum tucked

Iss = Itt
9s = 3t

t = 3s

Since flight time is 1 second and one somersault is

completed in the straight position:
s = 1 rev/s

t = 3 rev/s

Suppose the time spent straight = t

Then the time spent tucked

=1-t

Total rotation = 2 somersaults. Therefore:

2 = 1t + (1 - t)3
t = 0.5 s

(2) A diver falls from handstand position and leaves the platform when horizontal with
an angular velocity of 4 rad.s-1. The diver is of mass 60 kg, the moment of inertia
about the mass centre is 12 kg.m2, and the distance from hands to mass centre is 1.0
m. How does the angular momentum about the mass centre change during the flight
phase? If the diver completes one somersault in the straight position how high is the
diving platform?

Before
O

After

v = r

Angular momentum about the mass centre does not change as

there is no torque about the mass centre in flight.
Angular velocity at release = 4 rad/s 0.64 rev/s
Required rotation = rev
Therefore flight time = 0.75 / 0.63 = 1.18 s
Using s = ut + at2
s = -11.5 m

s = -41.18 - 9.811.182

(3) In a straight backward somersault the body is straight throughout. In a piked

backward somersault the body is straight for half a somersault and piked for half a
somersault. The flight times are the same. The moments of inertia of the body in the
two positions are 6 and 12 kg.m2. What is the ratio of the angular momenta of the
two movements?

Straight back somersault:

Angular momentum = Is s

Piked back somersault:

Conservation of angular momentum:
Issp = Ipp

12sp = 6p

Since the flight times are the same

t s = 2/3t sp + 1/3t p
s = 2/3 sp + 1/32 sp
s = 4/3 sp
Is s :

Is sp

12 s :

12 s3/4

4 : 3

2sp = p

(4) A diver can execute one and a half somersaults in the straight position. If the first
and last quarter somersault of a dive are done in the straight position, how much
somersault could the diver achieve if she were to tuck in the middle phase of the
dive? Moment of inertia about the mass centre is 12 kg.m2 when straight and 4 kg.m2
when tucked.

Conservation of angular momentum

Iss = Itt
12s = 4t
3s = t

Therefore rotate 3 times faster when tucked

So 1 straight somersault 3 tucked somersaults

Option 1 = 1 straight
Option 2 = straight + X tucked + straight
= straight + X tucked

Therefore 1 straight straight + X tucked

X tucked = 1 straight

Therefore X = 3
So 3 somersaults can be achieved if the diver tucks during
the middle phase