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
The court surface absorbs the player’s weight
Gravitational forces are temporarily suspended during the jumping motion

Show Answers Only

\(A\)

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: The court does not absorb the player’s weight; it pushes back with a reaction force equal and opposite to the force applied by the legs.
D is incorrect: Gravity continues to act throughout the movement.