Which term describes the forces generated by muscles acting on joints?

The term that best describes the forces generated by muscles acting on joints is internal forces. Internal forces are the forces produced within a system, such as the human body, and specifically refer to the actions of muscles that create movement or stability at the joints. This involves the tension created by muscle contractions, which enables movement against various physical demands.

Applied forces typically refer to forces exerted on an object externally rather than generated internally by the body’s muscles. Resistance forces refer to opposing forces that act against the direction of movement, such as gravity or friction, rather than the forces generated by muscles. External forces encompass influences acting on the body from outside sources, which do not pertain to the internal muscular actions.

Understanding internal forces is crucial in fields such as biomechanics and physical education as it helps in analyzing movement patterns, performance efficiency, and injury prevention.