How much lb could an average person push?

[Kirua]

e.g. pushing a door with x-lbs of resistance, assuming a person is exerting force perpendicular to the door, 36" from hinge. What is that x-lbs (max) an average adult could pushing with ease?

Thanks

 

[Facial]

This is really a question of two related parameters:

1. How heavy is the average person?

2. What is the average coefficient of static friction (for all combination of surfaces), i.e., what is 'typical'?

When you answer these two, you should be able to extract an answer.

 

[gmax137]

Why don't you find a spring-type bathroom scale, hold it up against a wall, and push. What does the scale read? There's your answer (if you are 'average,' whatever that means).

 

[Kirua]

"Why don't you find a spring-type bathroom scale, hold it up against a wall, and push."

Thanks!

 

[Matterwave]

Why don't you find a spring-type bathroom scale, hold it up against a wall, and push. What does the scale read? There's your answer (if you are 'average,' whatever that means).

I like this solution. Sometimes experiment is the way to go. Theory can help you only so much because of all the assumptions that one has to make to approximate any real world situation. =]