Question

9. Consider the elbow to be flexed at 90 degrees with the forearm parallel to the ground and the upper arm perpendicular to the ground. There is a 0.5 kg spherical ball in the hand. The person rotates her arm upward producing an initial angular acceleration of 10 rad/s2 . The elbow and wrist remain rigid. What are the muscle moments about the shoulder and elbow joints

Answer 1

Moment about SHOULDER ∑ τ = 3.17 N / m,

Moment respect to ELBOW Στ= 2.80 N m

Step-by-step explanation:

For this exercise we can use Newton's second law relationships for rotational motion

∑ τ = I α

The moment is requested on the elbow and shoulder at the initial instant, just when the movement begins.

They indicate the angular acceleration, for which we must look for the moments of inertia of the elements involved

The mass of the forearm with the included weight is approximately 2.3 kg, with a length of about 50cm

Moment about SHOULDER

∑ τ = I α

I = I_forearm + I_sphere

the forearm can be approximated as a fixed bar at one end

I_forearm = ⅓ m L²

the moment of inertia of the mass in the hand, let's approach as punctual

I_mass = m L²

we substitute

∑ τ = (⅓ m L² + M L²) α

let's calculate

∑ τ = (⅓ 2.3 0.5² + 0.5 0.5²) 10

∑ τ = 3.17 N / m

Moment with respect to ELBOW

In this case, the arm exerts an upward force (muscle) that is about 3 cm from the elbow

Στ = I α

I = I_ forearm + I_mass

I = ⅓ m (L-0.03)² + M (L-0.03)²

let's calculate

i = ⅓ 2.3 0.47² + 0.5 0.47²

I = 0.2798 Kg m²

Στ = 0.2798 10

Στ= 2.80 N m