Transcript Bionics
Bionics
Warm-Up
Do you think technological advances in prosthetics give
an unfair advantage in sports?
Warm-Up Videos
Hugh Herr
Previous Scientist of the Month (last semester)
Double amputee
MIT professor of biomechanics
Rock climber
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-26_y30Tww
During this next video, towards the end, Hugh talks about
one of Newton’s Laws – which one is it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AoRmlAZVTs
Which Law did Hugh Herr
Mention?
Newton’s Third Law: Action/Reaction
Moving Forward
Hugh mentioned that in his lab they are trying to
understand how our natural bodies function in order to
build technological models that function the same way.
Now that we have learned one very important
application of physics and biology – prosthetics – we
are going to spend some time understanding how our
limbs generate movement.
Archimedes
“Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which
to place it, and I shall move the world.”
Take a moment to identify unknown words in this
expression. What do you think Archimedes is
trying to say here?
“Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on
which to place it, and I shall move the world.”
What is a lever?
Simple machine designed to
increase velocity or move
high inertia objects.
Who remembers what inertia
is?
Components of a Lever
Resistance (load)
dl = resistance arm
Effort or Applied Force
de= force arm
Fulcrum (pivot)
Resistance Arm (RA) –
distance from where
resistance acts to the fulcrum
Force Arm (FA)– distance
from where a force is applied
to the fulcrum
“Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on
which to place it, and I shall move the world.”
First Class
Fulcrum lies between R and F.
FA can equal RA, but it doesn’t have to
This would create a balance
FA < RA – produces greater speed and range of motion
FA > RA – produces greater output of force
Force Magnifier
Designed for balance
Second Class
Resistance lies between fulcrum and applied F.
FA and RA are on the same side of the lever.
FA>RA (always)
Magnifies applied force
Third Class
F lies between the R and fulcrum
FA < RA
F is always greater than the Resistance
Distance magnifier.
Third Class
Generates speed over
distance at point of
resistance.
Longer the lever the longer
RA will be and thus more
speed produced to
resistance (load)
Pitching: Increase should
muscles increases F applied,
which increases velocity of
arm and transfer of
momentum to the ball.
Warm-Up
1. What are the 3 classes of levers?
2. Which class is always a force magnifier?
3. Which class is always responsible for increase in
speed and range of motion.
4. Which class of lever can be both a force magnifier and
a speed/range of motion magnifier?
Classes of Levers
First
Fulcrum lies between
the resistance and
applied force.
Second
Third
Resistance lies between Force lies between the
fulcrum and applied
resistance and the
force.
fulcrum.
Expanding Summary
Pick a lever class.
Draw a pictorial summary for the lever.
Using your visual summary to help you, write a 5-8
word summary for your lever class.
Find other students who wrote about the same class
lever as you.
Expanding Summary
Share your summary with someone who did the same
class lever as you.
Discuss everything you learned about this lever with
your group.
Write a 25 word summary about your class of lever.
Levers in the Body
Which class do you think is most common in the human body?
Levers in the Body
Bones represent the lever
bars
Joints are the axes (fulcrum)
Resistance – may be the
weight of the bones, body, or
an applied load
Effort (applied force) Muscles contract to apply
force at point of insertion
First Class Levers in the Body
Second Class Levers in the
Body
Third Class Levers in the
Body
Summaries
Add 1-2 sentences to your summary that explains how
your class of lever is found in the human body.
Mechanical Advantage
Ratio between Force Arm and Resistance Arm.
MA = FA/RA
MA > 1
Mechanical advantage in force (amplification of force)
First and second class levers
MA < 1
Mechanical advantage in speed and range of motion
First and Third class levers
FA must always be greater than resistance – no
mechanical advantage
MA in the Body
Origin and insertion of muscle determines the
mechanical advantage.
The further the insertion point from the joint, the less force
required
Torque
Turning force
T = Fd
Greater the force, greater the torque
Greater the distance, greater the torque
In order to move an object, the T generated by the
body must be greater than the torque generated by R.
Torque in the Body
Our bodies are built for speed and range of motion at
the expense of force.
Short FA and long RA require great muscular strength
to produce movement.
Biceps: FA = 1-2 in
Triceps: FA < 1in
Thought Question
How might our knowledge of mechanical levers and
their application in the body impact the design and
functionality of a prosthetic (keep in mind, not all
prosthetics are limbs)?