McMaster University

Department of Kinesiology

Kinesiology 2A03

Biomechanics (Fall 2008)

Instructor: Dr. Jim Potvin (potvinj@mcmaster.ca) IWC 219A ext 23004

Course Description:
This course will introduce you to the field of Biomechanics. You will learn:
1) how the human body generates forces and torques to act on its external world and cause
movement
2) how external forces can affect the human body.
Many examples will be given to illustrate the applications of Biomechanics to enhancing sports
performance, ergonomics, athletic equipment design, prosthetics development, protective equipment
etc. Students will learn about the analysis of linear and angular kinematics (motion) and kinetics
(forces/torques). The course will include the use of computer software to give the you experience in
using video and computerized biomechanical analysis techniques to study and understand human
motion. In addition, practical lab experiences will be provided.

Course Text:
Basic Biomechanics, Susan J. Hall (5th edition)

WebCT:
Other materials will be posted on WebCT throughout the semester. This will include practice problems
with solutions, documents with selected slides for upcoming lectures, resource materials, advanced lab
handouts etc. Students are advised to check WebCT the day before each class, lab or exam, for
materials that may be needed or relevant for that class, lab or exam.

Office Hours:
- TBA (10-12 hours per week)
- Students with questions about class material, exams or practice problems can seek assistance from the
instructor after class or with the TAs/instructor during their posted office hours (TBA). Questions about
course material, exams or practice problems will not be answered through email.
- Email can be used only for administrative purposes (missed exams or classes, sickness, need to switch
lab sections for academic reasons, etc)

Practical Lab Experiences (Room IWC/AB101)

Four lab experiences will be provided to demonstrate biomechanics equipment and give hands-on
experiences to reinforce the concepts presented in class. There will be no formal lab submissions
required, but attendance is mandatory and you will be responsible for all lab material in the midterm and
final exams (as specified below). If you do not attend you scheduled lab section, 1% will be deducted from
your final grad. However, students with documented reasons to miss the lab will be given the opportunity
to attend that lab during a make-up lab time. The four practical lab experiences will be conducted during
the weeks starting with the following dates:
1. Sept 22 (week 4) 2. Oct 20 (week 8) 3. Nov 03 (week 10) 4. Nov 17 (week 12).
Lab Sections
You have been scheduled into a lab section as designated on your timetable. If you have not been given
a lab slot, or if a conflict arises for academic reasons (e.g., a course is rescheduled), you will have the
opportunity during the first week of classes to transfer into a different lab section. Note that potential
transfers depend on space availability. Lab changes will be permitted ONLY for academic reasons. In this
case, you MUST obtain written permission/confirmation (in the form of an e-mail message) from both the
lab instructor for the lab you are vacating and the lab instructor for the lab you are joining.
Computer Lab Experiences
A software package called Human Movement Analysis (HU-M-AN™) is installed in the student computer
lab. This package can be used for biomechanical analyses. Included in the package, are a number of
demonstrations and practice exercises to familiarize the student with the software. Also, there are “virtual”
labs that will give students experience with viewing motion, digitizing joint coordinates and calculating joint
and segmental kinematics and kinetics. Three of these labs will be assigned and will be completed by
students outside of class time in the computer laboratory. Students should complete the computer labs by
the following dates:
- HuMan Lab #1: Oct 2nd (before Midterm #1)
- HuMan Lab #2: Oct 30th (before Midterm #2)
- HuMan Lab #9: Nov 20th (before classes end)

Course evaluation Material Covered

Midterm exam #1 25% (Fri, Oct 3rd) week 5 Sept 3rd to Sept 30th
st
Midterm exam #2 25% (Fri, Oct 31 ) week 9 Oct 2nd to Oct 28th
Assignment (TBA) 11% (due Fri, Nov 20th) week 12 TBA
Lab attendance 4% (1% for each Practical Lab Experience)
Final exam 35% TBA All lectures and labs

Note for Midterm Exams: Computer Lab material will be tested during Midterm #1 (HuMan Lab 1),
Midterm #2 (Human Lab 2) and the Final. Practical Lab Experience material will be tested during Midterm
#1 (lab experience 1), Midterm #2 (lab experiences 2 and 3) and the Final.

Note for Final Exam: 30% of the Final Exam will incorporate material from all three HuMan labs and all
four practical lab experiences. 30% will be based on material from Oct 30th to Nov 28th (since Midterm #2)
and 40% will be based on the whole course.

Returning Graded Work

All graded work will be returned during normally scheduled lecture and/or laboratory time and students
who are not available to pick up their work, must contact the instructor or designated T.A. to make
individual arrangements

Late Policy: deductions of 10% will be made if one day late with 2% for every additional day.

Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty consists of misrepresentation by deception or by other fraudulent means and can result
in serious consequences, e.g., the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the
transcript (notation reads: “Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty”), and/or suspension or expulsion
from the university.

It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various
kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, specifically Appendix 3, located at:
http://www.mcmaster.ca/senate/academic/ac_integrity.htm