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UK GCSE level age ~14-16, ~US grades 9-10 Biology revision: Joint-muscle action force calculations

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Skeleton and muscles Part 3. Weight lifted and muscle force needed calculations based on the action of muscles e.g. antagonistic muscles of elbow joint

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(3) Weight lifted and force calculations based on the action of muscles

force and moment calculations of arm elbow joint force generated by biceps and triceps calculating force needed to lift raise a weight

Some example questions (answers)

ALL based on the diagram above for the antagonistic biceps and triceps muscles of the elbow joint

Assume the gravitational field constant is 10 N/kg

Question 1

If d1 = 0.40 m, d2 = 5 cm, using the above diagram for help, and applying the principle of moments, calculate the minimum force needed by the biceps contraction to lift a weight of 20 N.

 

Question 2

If d1 = 0.36 m, d2 = 0.06 m, using the above diagram for help, and applying the principle of moments, calculate the minimum force needed by the biceps contraction to lift a mass of 3 kg.

 

Question 3

If d1 = 45 cm, d2 = 5 cm, using the above diagram for help, and applying the principle of moments, calculate the minimum force needed by the biceps contraction to lift a weight of 15 N.

 

Question 4

If d1 = 48 cm, d2 = 6 cm, using the above diagram for help, and applying the principle of moments, calculate the minimum force needed by the biceps contraction to lift a weight of 2 kg.

 

Question 5

If d1 = 0.50 m, d2 = 0.05 m, using the above diagram for help, and applying the principle of moments, if the maximum strength of a person's biceps muscle contraction creates a force of 150 N, calculate the maximum weight the person's arm can raise and hold.

 

Question 6

If d1 = 0.60 m, d2 = 0.06 m, using the above diagram for help, and applying the principle of moments, if the maximum strength of a person's biceps muscle contraction creates a force of 180 N, calculate the maximum mass the person's arm can raise and hold.

 

Question 7

If d1 = 0.50 m, d2 = 0.05 m, using the above diagram for help, and applying the principle of moments, if the maximum strength of a person's biceps muscle contraction creates a force of 200 N, calculate the maximum weight the person's arm can raise and hold.

 

Question 8

 If d1 = 0.40 m, d2 = 0.06 m, using the above diagram for help, and applying the principle of moments, if the maximum strength of a person's biceps muscle contraction creates a force of 240 N, calculate the maximum mass the person's arm can raise and hold.

(Answers)


Key points - Weight lifted and force needed calculations

Based on the syllabus-specifications for students taking the UK AQA, Edexcel and OCR GCSE level biology examinations (~US grades 9-10 biology).

Keywords, phrases and learning objectives for this part on bones, muscles, skeleton and teeth

Be able to do weight lifted and force calculations based on the action of muscles.

Be able to calculate the moments involved in problem solving using the principle of moments.

Study and work through the questions with worked-out answers based on the antagonistic muscles of the elbow joint biceps and the pivot point.


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Answers to the muscle force questions using the principle of moments

Remember 1 kg mass is equivalent to 10 N on the Earth's surface.

Q1 F1 x d1 = F2 x d2, convert cm to m, 20 x 0.40 = F2 x 0.05, F2 = 20 x 0.40 / 0.05 = 160 N

Q2 3 kg = 3 x 10 = 30 N, F1 x d1 = F2 x d2, convert cm to m, 30 x 0.36 = F2 x 0.06 x F2, F2 = 30 x 0.36 / 0.06 = 180 N

Q3 F1 x d1 = F2 x d2, convert cm to m, 15 x 0.45 = F2 x 0.05, F2 = 15 x 0.45 / 0.05 = 135 N

Q4 2 kg = 2 x 10 = 20 N, F1 x d1 = F2 x d2, convert cm to m, 20 x 0.48 = F2 x 0.06, F2 = 20 x 0.48 / 0.06 = 160 N

Q5 F1 x d1 = F2 x d2, F1 x 0.50 = 150 x 0.05, F1 = 150 x 0.05 / 0.50 = 15 N

Q6 F1 x d1 = F2 x d2, F1 x 0.60 = 180 x 0.06, F1 = 180 x 0.06 / 0.60 = 18 N, mass = 18 / 10 = 1.8 kg

Q7 F1 x d1 = F2 x d2, F1 x 0.50 = 200 x 0.05, F1 = 200 x 0.05 / 0.50 = 20 N

Q8 F1 x d1 = F2 x d2, F1 x 0.40 = 240 x 0.06, F1 = 240 x 0.06 / 0.40 = 36 N, mass = 36 /10 = 3.6 kg


Revision notes on calculations of force needed to lift a weight by the elbow joint based on the syllabus-specifications for students taking IGCSE/GCSE level biology examinations, summary revision notes and key points on calculations of force needed to lift a weight by the elbow joint for students taking the AQA igcse/gcse biology notes on calculations of force needed to lift a weight by the elbow joint, Edexcel gcse biology notes on calculations of force needed to lift a weight by the elbow joint,  OCR 21st century GCSE biology notes on calculations of force needed to lift a weight by the elbow joint, OCR gateway GCSE biology notes on calculations of force needed to lift a weight by the elbow joint, WJEC gcse biology notes on calculations of force needed to lift a weight by the elbow joint, CCEA gcse biology notes on calculations of force needed to lift a weight by the elbow joint for students taking CIE Cambridge igcse biology, exam revision notes on calculations of force needed to lift a weight by the elbow joint, useful for US grade 9-10 biology courses, importance of antagonistic muscle of the elbow joint in GCSE level biology, What you need to know about antagonistic muscle of the elbow joint for GCSE level biology, Explaining the use of antagonistic muscle of the elbow joint knowledge in GCSE level biology, Examples of antagonistic muscle of the elbow joint explained when studying GCSE level biology, What is significant about antagonistic muscle of the elbow joint, describing the theory of antagonistic muscle of the elbow joint when studying GCSE level biology, revision notes for antagonistic muscle of the elbow joint in exams, online exam help for antagonistic muscle of the elbow joint, revision notes about antagonistic muscle of the elbow joint, what do I need to learn about antagonistic muscle of the elbow joint for by GCSE biology exam? help to understand the antagonistic muscle of the elbow joint topic in preparation for GCSE biology exam question, how to prepare for questions involving antagonistic muscle of the elbow joint in a GCSE biology examination?


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