Question

Vertical Jump:

Mechanical energy transfer- During take-off, hip and knee extending. How much work is done at the joint?
a) A lot of work; It's evenly distributed
b) Minimal work; It's concentrated at the proximal joints
c) Moderate work; It's split between joints
d) No work; It's evenly distributed

Answer 1

In a vertical jump, significant work is done at the hip and knee joints due to the force exerted to push the body off the ground, transforming potential energy into kinetic energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

During a vertical jump, the work done at the hip and knee joints can be significant due to the extension and force exerted to push the body off the ground. According to Essential Knowledge 4.C.2, mechanical energy is transferred into or out of a system when an external force is exerted on a system such that a component of the force is parallel to its displacement, which is called work. In the case of a vertical jump, the hip and knee joints are the primary sites of force application, and thus, where the majority of work is done to overcome gravity and propel the body upwards. This process requires a considerable amount of work to transform potential energy into kinetic energy, making work at the joint significant, although it is distributed across different muscle groups and joints.