How Do Newton's Laws Apply to Weight Lifting?

AI Thread Summary
In the discussion about applying Newton's laws to weight lifting, participants analyze the forces involved when an athlete lifts a barbell with constant acceleration. They clarify that the force exerted by the athlete's feet on the ground must account for both their body weight and the increased effective weight of the barbell due to acceleration. The concept of apparent weight is highlighted, indicating that the barbell's weight changes when it is lifted compared to when it is stationary. Newton's third law is emphasized, noting that the force exerted on the barbell results in an equal and opposite force acting on the athlete. Overall, the conversation focuses on understanding how these forces interact during the lifting process.
Peach
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Homework Statement


An athlete whose mass m is performing weight lifting excersies. Starting from rest positions, he lifts, with constant acceleration, a barbell that weighs w. He lifts the barbell a distance of x in time of t. Use Newton's laws to find the total force his feet exert on the ground as he lifts the barbell.

Homework Equations


F=ma


The Attempt at a Solution


I drew the free body diagram already, with the force his feet exert on the ground downward, the normal force upward, and the gravity force downward. Is this correct? Is there any other force I'm missing?
 
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interesting problem... things to note, when the barbell is being lifted its weight is different from when it is stationary (or not under acceleration). The normal upward force on the barbell is the force provided by the lifting. So, total foce on ground would I guess come from the body weight and the modified barbell weight
 
The barbell weight changes? I don't get this part...
 
Peach said:
The barbell weight changes? I don't get this part...

Nor do I. My understanding of the problem is that if the barbell accelerates upward, then this means that he is pushing upward on it with a force, F that is > its weight. Therefore, since the barbell has mass M = w/g, we have:

Ma = F - w

==> wa/g + w = F

==> w(a/g + 1) = F

Now, if he pushes up on the barbell with this force, then presumably the barbell pushes down on him with the same force (Newton's third law, this is why the problem says to use Newton's lawS (plural)). Which means that the floor, in addition to supporting his weight mg as it normally does, must also support force F. That's the best I can come up with for this problem. Somebody let me know if I'm totally on crack...
 
cepheid

what you have done have actually demonstrated that the (apparent) weight of the barbell has changed since F = w (a/g+1) which is different from its original weight w. It is like inside a lift when the lift accelerate up you feel that your feet is pushing down the floor of the lift harder. The term "weight" can sometimes be confusing.
 
Oh, okay. Fair enough.
 
So... the normal force is N = mg + w(2x/(t^2)+1) ? Something like that?
 

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