Final answer:
The statement is false because the ground reaction force's position changes relative to the hip and ankle joints during the stance phase of walking, as the body's weight distribution and balance alter throughout the gait cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is false. During each part of the stance phase in the gait cycle, the position of the ground reaction force relative to the hip and ankle joints changes.
This is because the body's center of gravity and balance points shift as a person walks.
In the stance phase, which includes heel strike, mid-stance, and toe-off stages, the body's weight is shifted differently across the joints, and this affects the direction and magnitude of the ground reaction force.
Newton's Third Law of Motion is relevant in understanding how these forces work: when a person walks, they exert a force on the ground (F1), and the ground exerts an equal and opposite force (F2) on the person.
The two forces act on different systems and are responsible for the motion of walking. While these forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, the net force acting on the person is not zero due to the way these forces are applied during the walking cycle.