Eli5: Why is it easier to push than pull

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Eli5: Why is it easier to push than pull

In: Physics

2 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Here’s another thread questioning why it is ***easier to pull than push***: [https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2tm912/eli5_why_is_it_easier_to_pull_than_to_push/](https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2tm912/eli5_why_is_it_easier_to_pull_than_to_push/)

You may also want to look at a Free-Body Diagram illustrating the various components of forces acting on the object while being pushed and pulled.

Anonymous 0 Comments

For a human, pushing is mostly about extending your arms out. You usually have more space to position your feet to get a good grip on the ground, and you can put more of your body weight into the motion. Pulling requires a different set of muscles, and depending on what you’re trying to pull you might not have as much space to really get your full body weight into it, even if you’re leaning back.