Eli5 why someone is heavier when they are limp versus when they have muscle tension
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It’s not about weight, it’s about center of gravity. The human body is fairly fluid, so when it is limp the center of gravity changes all the time- think of it like trying to carry a bag of water. When the person maintains tension, they automatically adjust their center of gravity to match that of the person carrying them. It makes them much easier to control and maneuver, and we perceive that as “lighter” because we have to engage fewer muscles to move them around.
It’s not that they are heavier, just more difficult to carry when they’re limp. Imagine trying to carry a plastic bag with 20kg of water in compared to 20kg of water in a jerry can. The water in the plastic bag will move around and the bag will change shape so you will need to use some of your strength just keep it steady whereas in the jerry can the shape stays constant and you can use all your strength just to lift
it.
Two reasons: stability and leverage.
When a person is rigid you can just stick your forearms out and have the person’s back on one arm and the other behind the knees. Think like how hard it is to carry some things far from you with an outstretched arm vs having it close to your body with more leverage available, much easier.
On top of that, limp people would simply slip through your arms, so you have to clasp them as well to add stability, and this increases the muscle load.
Limp: weight not balanced like carrying bucket of sloshing water, takes more energy to stabilize
Muscle tension: weight distributed more evenly, not do as much work holding steady. Like carry rock
Are you insinuating that I weigh more when I have a boner?
It is probably because its HUGE duh.
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