Question

BALANCE AND CENTER OF MASS

Think about sports, exercises or activities where balance is a challenge (ie. gymnastics, yoga, riding on a moving train, etc.). Choose an activity of your choice and answer the questions below:

1. Describe the activity you have chosen.

2. Discuss why balance is a challenge during this activity in terms of center of mass/ center of gravity and base of support.

3. Is there any way you can think to modify the activity for someone who may find the balance too challenging?

Answer 1

1. The activity is roller skating in which you have to wear shoes with rollers attached at the bottom of the shoes. You have to move by using those roller skates.

2. The balance is a challenge because you can't use it in a similar way we use normal shoes, and dynamic balancing is required by using the hands. The movement of hands helps in the positioning of the center of mass which then helps us to keep up the balance and move on the roller skates.

3. Moving on a single leg with roller skates will be a very challenging task to a normal person, who have never used such skates.