Is Lifting Weight While Standing at Rest Considered Work?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around whether lifting a weight while standing at rest constitutes work, particularly from both a physics and physiological perspective. Participants explore the definitions and implications of work in different contexts, including mechanical and internal muscle work.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question if lifting a weight while standing still involves any work at a microscopic level.
  • There is a distinction made between holding a weight without moving it and lifting a weight while remaining in one place.
  • One participant asserts that while no mechanical work is done on the weight when held stationary, there is internal work performed by the muscles, which requires energy and leads to fatigue.
  • References to previous discussions on the topic suggest that this is a recurring question within the community.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the definitions and implications of work in this context, indicating multiple competing views remain regarding the nature of work in physics versus physiology.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the limitations of definitions of work, particularly the differences between mechanical work and physiological work, which may depend on specific interpretations and contexts.

mahannan
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if a man is lifting weight while standing at rest, is he doing work microscopically?
 
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mahannan said:
if a man is lifting weight while standing at rest, is he doing work microscopically?
If he's lifting it microscopically. :smile:

Do you mean holding a weight without moving it? Or lifting a weight while standing in one place?
 
I think we have been through this discussion before, the physics definition of work is fundementally different to the physiological definition of work. I'll try and dig out a link to the other thread.
 
Doc Al said:
If he's lifting it microscopically. :smile:

Do you mean holding a weight without moving it? Or lifting a weight while standing in one place?
I mean, do his muscles perform any work as he is standing while lifting the weight at rest?
 
I will assume you mean that the man is holding a weight without moving it. In that case while there is no mechanical work done on the weight, there is certainly work going on in your muscles (they continually tense and relax)--that's why you get tired just holding a weight, even though you are not moving it. That internal work requires energy.
 
Hootenanny said:
Was your search function running slow? Mine took ages to display...
Yes, way too slow to be useful. But the thread wasn't that old, so I found it in the list.
 

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