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EnglandPhysical Education

3.4 Exercise physiology and biomechanics

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do Newton's laws and the concepts of force and motion explain sporting movement?

Newton's three laws of motion applied to sport, the definitions of mass, weight, inertia, momentum, force, net force and centre of mass, and the use of free body diagrams and the impulse-momentum relationship.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level PE biomechanics on biomechanical principles, covering Newton's three laws of motion, mass, weight, inertia, momentum, force and net force, free body diagrams and the impulse-momentum relationship.
11 min answer →

How does diet and nutrition affect performance, energy balance and recovery in sport?

The role of the macronutrients and micronutrients, hydration and energy balance, the importance of diet for different performers, and dietary manipulation and supplements such as creatine, sodium bicarbonate, caffeine and glycogen loading.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level PE exercise physiology on diet and nutrition, covering macronutrients and micronutrients, hydration, energy balance and the use of dietary supplements and ergogenic aids such as creatine, caffeine and glycogen loading.
10 min answer →

How do the forces of air and water resistance and lift affect the movement of performers and projectiles?

The factors affecting air resistance and drag, the Bernoulli principle and the production of lift, the Magnus effect on spinning balls, and the techniques used to minimise drag and maximise lift in sport.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level PE biomechanics on fluid mechanics, covering the factors affecting air resistance and drag, the Bernoulli principle and lift, the Magnus effect on spinning balls and techniques to minimise drag and maximise lift.
9 min answer →

How can sports injuries be prevented, assessed and rehabilitated effectively?

The methods of injury prevention through warm-up, cool-down and screening, the types of acute and chronic injuries, and the methods of treating and rehabilitating injuries including the recovery process.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level PE exercise physiology on injury prevention and rehabilitation, covering the warm-up and cool-down, screening, the types of acute and chronic injuries, and methods of treatment and rehabilitation.
9 min answer →

How do the lever systems of the body and the factors affecting projectiles influence performance?

The three classes of lever and their mechanical advantage, the analysis of angular motion including moment of inertia and angular momentum, and the factors affecting the horizontal and vertical components of projectile motion.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level PE biomechanics on levers and projectile motion, covering the three classes of lever and mechanical advantage, angular motion, moment of inertia and angular momentum, and the factors affecting projectile flight.
11 min answer →

How do different methods of training improve fitness and what adaptations do they cause?

The components of fitness and their testing, the principles of training and periodisation, the methods of training (continuous, interval, fartlek, plyometric, HIIT and flexibility), and the physiological adaptations that result.
A focused answer to AQA A-Level PE exercise physiology on training methods and adaptations, covering components of fitness, the principles of training, periodisation, the main methods of training and the physiological adaptations they produce.
11 min answer →