I use a 600ft rope for work. I usually wrap it up to move it. I also happen to be very able to carry it. But when all the ropes hanging off the side of a building, it feels much more heavier to pull back up. Why is that?
2006-10-02 13:29:39 · 2 answers · asked by lpzie 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Of course the weight of the rope is the same whether wrapped up or being held hanging by one end. The difference in sensation depends on the different muscles used to support the rope. If you coil the rope but hold it by a loose vertical end it will seem as heavy as it would hanging over the side of a building. The further out from your body that you hold the end, the heavier it may seem because of leverage.
2006-10-02 14:21:56 · answer #1 · answered by Kes 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How heavy it feels depends partly on how strong it pulls at your skin. When you pull the rope back up the surface of your hand that is in contact with the rope is smaller then when you lift a wrapped up rope. Especially when you only pull with one hand. So the force concentrates on a smaller region of skin. Also if something is pulling at your skin you will feel it more strongly then if something is pushing onto your skin.
2006-10-02 20:42:57 · answer #2 · answered by Voice of Insanity 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋