HMS, BM EQ-Bank 961 MC

When a basketball player jumps to shoot, their legs push down against the court surface. According to biomechanical principles, what enables the player to leave the ground?

Applied forces from the legs create equal and opposite reaction forces from the court
Internal forces generated by muscle contraction overcome gravity
External forces from the court surface exceed the player's body weight
Gravitational forces are temporarily suspended during the jumping motion

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\(A\)

Show Worked Solution

A is correct: Applied forces from leg muscles create equal and opposite reaction forces from the court, following Newton’s Third Law, enabling upward movement.

Other Options:

B is incorrect: Internal forces alone cannot create upward movement without external reaction forces.
C is incorrect: Court forces are reactions to applied forces, not independent external forces.
D is incorrect: Gravity continues to act throughout the movement.