Paper 1 Revision — Movement Analysis and Physical Training

This lesson covers the remaining two sections of Paper 1: Movement Analysis (3.1.2) and Physical Training (3.1.3). Movement Analysis focuses on lever systems and planes and axes of movement. Physical Training covers components of fitness, fitness testing, training methods, and principles of training. Together, these two sections make up a substantial portion of Paper 1 and often provide the context for extended response questions.

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Movement Analysis — Topic Map

graph TD
    A["Movement Analysis<br/>(Section 3.1.2)"] --> B["Lever Systems"]
    A --> C["Planes and Axes<br/>of Movement"]
    B --> B1["First class<br/>levers"]
    B --> B2["Second class<br/>levers"]
    B --> B3["Third class<br/>levers"]
    B --> B4["Mechanical<br/>advantage"]
    C --> C1["Frontal plane /<br/>Frontal axis"]
    C --> C2["Sagittal plane /<br/>Transverse axis"]
    C --> C3["Transverse plane /<br/>Longitudinal axis"]
    style A fill:#2c3e50,color:#fff
    style B fill:#e67e22,color:#fff
    style C fill:#2980b9,color:#fff

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Lever Systems

A lever system consists of three components:

Component	Symbol	Definition
Fulcrum (F)	△	The pivot point — in the body, this is the joint
Effort (E)	E	The force applied by the muscle
Load / Resistance (L)	L	The weight being moved (body part, equipment, opponent)

The Three Classes of Lever

The class of lever depends on the arrangement of the fulcrum, effort, and load.

Class	Arrangement	Body Example	Sporting Example
First class	Fulcrum between effort and load (E-F-L)	The head nodding on the atlas vertebra (neck extension)	Heading a football
Second class	Load between fulcrum and effort (F-L-E)	Plantarflexion at the ankle when going onto tiptoes	Pushing off the blocks in a sprint start
Third class	Effort between fulcrum and load (F-E-L)	Flexion at the elbow during a bicep curl	Kicking a football (knee extension)

Exam Tip: The vast majority of lever systems in the body are third class levers. If you are unsure which class a movement uses, third class is often a safe guess — but always check by identifying the positions of the fulcrum (joint), effort (muscle attachment), and load (weight being moved).

Mechanical Advantage

Mechanical Advantage = Effort Arm ÷ Resistance Arm

• The effort arm is the distance from the fulcrum to the point where the effort is applied
• The resistance arm is the distance from the fulcrum to the point where the load acts

Mechanical Advantage	Meaning	Lever Class
Greater than 1	The lever system amplifies force — it is easier to move a heavy load	Second class (and some first class)
Less than 1	The lever system sacrifices force for speed and range of movement	Third class (and some first class)
Equal to 1	Force and speed are balanced	Some first class levers

Example calculation: A lever has an effort arm of 40 cm and a resistance arm of 10 cm.

• MA = 40 ÷ 10 = 4
• This means the effort is multiplied by 4 — a large mechanical advantage, making it easier to move heavy loads.

Second example: A lever has an effort arm of 5 cm and a resistance arm of 30 cm.

• MA = 5 ÷ 30 = 0.17
• This is a low mechanical advantage — but the lever produces a large range of movement and high speed at the load end.

Exam Tip: Calculation questions on mechanical advantage are common and straightforward. Always write the formula, substitute the values, and show your working. Do not forget to state whether the result is greater than 1 (force advantage) or less than 1 (speed/range advantage) if the question asks you to interpret the result.

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Planes and Axes of Movement

A plane is an imaginary flat surface that divides the body. An axis is an imaginary line around which the body or a body part rotates. Each plane is paired with a specific axis.

Plane	Divides the Body	Axis	Axis Direction	Movement Examples
Sagittal (median)	Left and right	Transverse (horizontal)	Side to side through the body	Flexion, extension: running, squatting, somersault, bicep curl
Frontal (coronal)	Front and back	Sagittal (anteroposterior)	Front to back through the body	Abduction, adduction: star jumps, cartwheel, lateral raise
Transverse (horizontal)	Upper and lower	Longitudinal (vertical)	Top to bottom through the body	Rotation: pirouette in dance, discus throw, full twist in trampolining

Applying Planes and Axes to Sporting Movements

When a question asks you to identify the plane and axis of a movement, follow these steps:

1. Watch (or imagine) the movement — what direction does the body or limb move?
2. Identify the plane — is the movement forwards/backwards (sagittal), side-to-side (frontal), or rotational (transverse)?
3. Identify the axis — the axis is always perpendicular to the plane

Sporting Movement	Plane	Axis	Justification
A forward roll	Sagittal	Transverse	The body rotates forwards around a horizontal axis
A cartwheel	Frontal	Sagittal	The body moves sideways around a front-to-back axis
An ice skater's spin	Transverse	Longitudinal	The body rotates around a vertical axis
A goalkeeper diving to save	Frontal	Sagittal	The body moves laterally
A tennis forehand	Transverse	Longitudinal	The trunk rotates around a vertical axis
A gymnast performing a tuck jump	Sagittal	Transverse	Flexion at the hip in the sagittal plane

Exam Tip: A common mistake is to confuse the sagittal plane with the sagittal axis. Remember: the sagittal plane divides left and right (movements go forwards/backwards in this plane), while the sagittal axis goes from front to back (the axis for frontal plane movements). The names are counterintuitive, so practise until they are automatic.

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Physical Training — Topic Map

graph TD
    A["Physical Training<br/>(Section 3.1.3)"] --> B["Components<br/>of Fitness"]
    A --> C["Fitness<br/>Testing"]
    A --> D["Training<br/>Methods"]
    A --> E["Principles of<br/>Training"]
    A --> F["Warm-Up and<br/>Cool-Down"]
    A --> G["Injury<br/>Prevention"]
    style A fill:#2c3e50,color:#fff
    style B fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
    style C fill:#e74c3c,color:#fff
    style D fill:#2980b9,color:#fff
    style E fill:#f39c12,color:#fff
    style F fill:#8e44ad,color:#fff
    style G fill:#1abc9c,color:#fff

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Components of Fitness

You must know the definition of each component and be able to link it to a sporting example.

Health-Related Components of Fitness

Component	Definition	Sporting Example
Cardiovascular endurance	The ability of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels to supply oxygen to working muscles during sustained physical activity	A marathon runner maintaining pace over 42 km
Muscular endurance	The ability of a muscle or group of muscles to sustain repeated contractions over a period of time	A cyclist pedalling for a long hill climb
Muscular strength	The maximum force a muscle or group of muscles can exert in a single contraction	A weightlifter performing a one-rep max deadlift
Flexibility	The range of movement available at a joint	A gymnast performing the splits
Body composition	The ratio of fat mass to fat-free mass (muscle, bone, organs, water) in the body	A sumo wrestler has a high body fat percentage; a long-distance runner has a low body fat percentage

Skill-Related Components of Fitness

Component	Definition	Sporting Example
Agility	The ability to change direction quickly while maintaining balance and control	A rugby player sidestepping a defender
Balance	The ability to maintain the body's centre of mass over the base of support	A gymnast performing a handstand
Coordination	The ability to use two or more body parts together smoothly and efficiently	A tennis player timing the swing of the racket with the bounce of the ball
Power	The ability to combine strength and speed in an explosive action (Power = Strength × Speed)	A basketball player jumping for a slam dunk
Reaction time	The time taken to initiate a response to a stimulus	A sprinter reacting to the starting gun
Speed	The ability to move all or part of the body quickly	A 100m sprinter

Exam Tip: A very common question is: "Identify the most important component of fitness for [named sport/activity] and justify your answer." You must name the component, define it, and then explain why it is the most important for that specific activity. A strong answer will also acknowledge other important components but argue why the one you chose is the most critical.

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Fitness Testing