MOMENTS OF INERTIA AND CENTERS OF GRAVITY OF THE LIVING HUMAN BODY

Abstract
A study was conducted to determine the moments of inertia and centers of gravity of a sample of 66 living male subjects representative of the Air Force population in stature and weight. Eight body positions were investigated: Standing; Standing, Arms Over Head; Spread Eagle; Sitting; Sitting, Forearms Down; Sitting, Thighs Elevated; Mercury Configuration; Relaxed (Weight less). The procedure was based upon the compound pendulum having a theoretical accuracy of approximately plus or minus 2 to plus or minus 8 per cent depending upon position and axis. Orthogonal axes, defined as the intersections of the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes through the standing body, were designated as X, Y, and Z. A set of 50 anthropometric dimensions was taken on each subject, as well as photographs, of each subject in each position. Results of the study show that the average moment of inertia varied in this sample from 11 lb. in sec. 2 about the Z axis to 152 lb. in sec. 2 about the X axis. Linear regression analysis of moments of inertia vs. stature and weight yielded correlation coefficients ranging between 0.77 and 0.98.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: