Explorations of Force Plates: Impulse Measurement in Athletic and Laboratory Contexts
Start Date
August 2025
End Date
August 2025
Location
ALT 307
Abstract
Explorations of Force Plates: Impulse Measurement in Athletic and Laboratory Contexts
A force plate uses piezoelectric or strain gauges to measure the forces being applied to it, typically normal forces in the vertical direction. Some applications of force plates include strength evaluation, symmetric testing, and general physics lab experiments. This research highlights explorations of force plates in measuring impulses in jumps and bouncing objects to study how force plate data can be used to assess physical fitness and prevention of injury during movement. The experiments included repeated countermovement jumps, squat jumps, and dropped balls with different size and weight onto the force place from the same height. The force plates featured in the experiments were the Hawkin Dynamics G5 force plate, Vernier force plates, and the Vernier Go Direct® 2-Axis Force Plate. In the assessment of the jumping movements, the key phases where impulse was measured include the braking phase, propulsive phase, and the landing phase. In the experiments with the balls, the impulse was measured from the contact from the first bounce. These experiments demonstrate how force plate data can provide meaningful insights into performance metrics and movement mechanics, offering valuable applications in both athletic training and injury prevention.
Key words: Impulse, Force plate, jumping, physical fitness, injury prevention
Explorations of Force Plates: Impulse Measurement in Athletic and Laboratory Contexts
ALT 307
Explorations of Force Plates: Impulse Measurement in Athletic and Laboratory Contexts
A force plate uses piezoelectric or strain gauges to measure the forces being applied to it, typically normal forces in the vertical direction. Some applications of force plates include strength evaluation, symmetric testing, and general physics lab experiments. This research highlights explorations of force plates in measuring impulses in jumps and bouncing objects to study how force plate data can be used to assess physical fitness and prevention of injury during movement. The experiments included repeated countermovement jumps, squat jumps, and dropped balls with different size and weight onto the force place from the same height. The force plates featured in the experiments were the Hawkin Dynamics G5 force plate, Vernier force plates, and the Vernier Go Direct® 2-Axis Force Plate. In the assessment of the jumping movements, the key phases where impulse was measured include the braking phase, propulsive phase, and the landing phase. In the experiments with the balls, the impulse was measured from the contact from the first bounce. These experiments demonstrate how force plate data can provide meaningful insights into performance metrics and movement mechanics, offering valuable applications in both athletic training and injury prevention.
Key words: Impulse, Force plate, jumping, physical fitness, injury prevention
