← Physical Education syllabus

WalesPhysical Education

A2: Biomechanics and Movement Analysis

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How does rotation work in sport, and how do athletes control their spin?

Angular motion in sport, the quantities of angular motion, moment of inertia and its effect on angular velocity, and the conservation of angular momentum.
A focused WJEC A-Level PE answer on angular motion, covering torque, moment of inertia, angular velocity and angular momentum, and how the conservation of angular momentum lets performers control their rate of spin.
12 min answer →

How do air and water flow affect performance, and how is spin used in sport?

Fluid mechanics in sport, the factors affecting air resistance and drag, the Bernoulli principle and lift, and the Magnus effect produced by spin.
A focused WJEC A-Level PE answer on fluid mechanics, covering air resistance and drag, factors that reduce drag, the Bernoulli principle and lift force, and the Magnus effect that swerves a spinning ball.
12 min answer →

How do we analyse a movement in terms of joints, levers, planes and axes?

The analysis of movement at joints, the three classes of lever and their mechanical advantage, and the planes and axes in which movements occur.
A focused WJEC A-Level PE answer on movement analysis, covering the three classes of lever and mechanical advantage, joint actions and muscle roles, and the planes and axes of movement used to describe sporting actions.
12 min answer →

How do Newton's laws and the quantities of linear motion explain sporting movement?

Newton's three laws of motion applied to sport, the definitions and relationships of the linear motion quantities, and the interpretation of motion graphs.
A focused WJEC A-Level PE answer on Newton's three laws applied to sport, the linear motion quantities (distance, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration, momentum), and reading distance-time and velocity-time graphs.
12 min answer →

What determines how far and how a projectile travels in sport?

Projectile motion in sport, the factors of release affecting horizontal distance, the forces of weight and air resistance, and the parabolic flight path.
A focused WJEC A-Level PE answer on projectile motion, covering the three release factors (speed, angle and height), the forces of weight and air resistance, the resolution of velocity into components, and the parabolic flight path.
12 min answer →