Which of the two is easier pushing or pulling an object? and why?

Question

Will it be easier to pull an object or to push it?

Lets take a cardbox of weight 20kg rectangular placed on a table will it be easier to push the box or pull it is my question?

Answer 1

Depends upon the object and the location.

Would you pull a round stone off a cliff? Ever push a chain or a rope? How about pulling a grand piano or a safe on casters down a sloping ramp?

Heavy weightlifters usually say that pulling the bar to their chest is easier than the push to full vertical.

Is throwing the same as pulling? How far can you pull a spear or a javelin? Have you ever been to a bowling alley? Could you pull the pins over?

...and pushing a bow string just doesn't give you the same results.

Answer 2

There are two parts to your question. Which way is easier for you to grasp and apply maximum force? You can push but not pull on a wall. You can move your feet away from a wall to get more leverage and push but not pull. The second part of the question deals with whether the load will resist more or less when you push or pull. Pulling may tend to lift the nearest edge reducing friction at that edge while pushing may dig the far edge down into the surface under it increasing resistance. I moved heavy wooden dock sections (by myself) by lifting and pulling one end but pushing them would have driven them into the ground. Designing a set of wheels made it easier to push or pull, even up slope!

Answer 3

This seems like a physics question but it could just as easily be biological. I think for humans it is easier to push a heavy object instead of pull. When pushing, it is easier to get your body and the mucles of your legs in line with the object you are trying to move, in the direction you are trying to move it. This means you can drive the object forward with the full force of your body. If you're pulling a heavy object, your body has to be leaning opposite the object which makes it harder for your body to maximize the strength of your muscles.
Plus, when pulling you generally need something to grip with your hands - which are weak compared to other muscles of the body. Pushing, you don't have to depend on small muscles to transfer the force.

Answer 4

Ok, being an RN and having to take courses on proper body mechanics, because the #1 problem with RNs is a bad back, usually pushing is the easier and safer if you had to choose.

When you pull an object you place your body out of proper alignment when now subjects your spine, joints, and other parts of your body to severe shearing and twisting forces that it is not designed for. There is less chance of something happening to you when you push.

http://www.familycaregiversonline.com/body_mechanics_8.html

This might help a little bit.

Answer 5

I think if you are going up-pulling and down- pushing. On a flat surface I would say pushing, just because you can use more leg smuscles in exerting a pushing manner. Also you have to worry about body mechanics and proper use of them otherwise the only pushing and pulling you will do is going to be on your back.

Answer 6

Depends on the object, much easier to pull a chain than to push one.

Answer 7

It will depend on what the object is, and the coefficient of friction involved. If you're pushing a flat heavy rock over pavement, hard! If you're pulling a flat heavy rock in a wagon with wheels- easy!

Answer 8

Depends on how the weight is distributed in the object.

Something top heavy is easier pushed, if bottom heavy pulling is easier

Answer 9

It depends on the strength of the force that is being exerted in a particular direction.

And, that's what the quintessential meaning of force is: a push or a pull.

Answer 10

Watching they're pushing and pulling an object

Answer 11

it is always easier to push an object because it becomes easy coz the gravitational force does some part of the work