Define mechanics.

• A. tangible results from a program
• B. time rate of adaptation
• C. physics of movements
• D. changes in the nervous system

Answer: (C)

Mechanics is the physics of how the body moves. It examines how forces produce motion, how joints and segments act as levers, and how technique and body positioning affect leverage, torque, and velocity. This fits best because it directly describes the physical processes behind movement—the interaction of forces, body segments, and gravity that generate motion. In practice, understanding mechanics helps you optimize technique, improve force transfer to the ground, and reduce injury risk by keeping movement aligned with biomechanical principles. Tangible results from a program are outcomes, not how movement works; the time rate of adaptation refers to how quickly the body adapts, not the mechanical aspects of movement; and changes in the nervous system reflect neural adaptations, which are related but distinct from the mechanical description of movement.