Question

1. How does elastic force contribute to power amplification during human movement?

This is for a Biomechanics course!

Answer 1

Elastic force contributes to power amplification during human movement by storing energy in the tendons, and releasing it faster than muscles, as they are not restricted by enzymatic processes that govern muscular movement.

Take the example of jumping.

While the tendons do less work than muscles used for jumping, they are able to release this energy faster. As power is equal to energy over time, the considerable shorter time in which they release energy substantially increases power output.

Jumping in both humans and other species relies on this behavior, as force cannot be exerted once contact with the ground is lost. Therefore, to maximize force production in such a short time, power amplification by elastic force is used.