HMS, TIP EQ-Bank 094 MC

During a gymnastics floor routine, a gymnast's spinning speed when performing somersaults decreases with each flip. Which technique adjustment would best maintain rotation speed throughout the routine?

Pulling arms and legs tighter to the body during spins
Extending arms and legs during rotation and pushing-off harder
Maintaining tighter core muscles throughout the entire routine to preserve energy
Increasing the height of each jump to allow more time for rotations

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\(A\)

Show Worked Solution

A is correct: Bringing the arms and legs closer to the body makes it easier to spin faster without losing momentum, which fixes the slowing rotation.

Other options:

B is incorrect: Pushing off harder gives more spin at the start but stretching arms and legs out makes rotation slower, which can cancel out the benefit.
C is incorrect: Tightening the core helps balance, but it doesn’t change spin speed. Rotation depends on body position and momentum, not muscle tension.
D is incorrect: Jumping higher gives more time in the air, but it doesn’t stop the gymnast from slowing down each spin.