Why it's easier to push the door from the furthest distance

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mechanics of pushing a door from different distances relative to its pivot point, focusing on concepts such as torque and mechanical advantage. Participants explore the reasons why it may be easier to push a door from a further distance.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the torque created when pushing the door is constant regardless of the distance from the pivot point, suggesting that the relationship between force and distance changes.
  • Others argue that the torque formula indicates that pushing further from the pivot increases the torque, making it easier to open or close the door.
  • A participant introduces the idea of mechanical advantage, likening the situation to a lever, where pushing farther requires more distance but spreads the effort over that distance, potentially making it feel easier.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the torque argument providing an intuitive explanation, suggesting that a mechanical advantage perspective may be more relatable.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the best way to explain the mechanics involved, with some favoring the torque perspective and others advocating for the mechanical advantage analogy. No consensus is reached on which explanation is more intuitive or correct.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not resolve the nuances of the torque calculations or the implications of mechanical advantage, leaving some assumptions and definitions open to interpretation.

THP
Why it's easier to push the door from the furthest distance From the pivot point?
 
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THP said:
Why it's easier to push the door from the furthest distance From the pivot point?
Is this a homework question?
 
haruspex said:
Is this a homework question?

Nope
 
Try to to think about this: if you want to open/close a door, you have to make the door rotating about the pivot point ##\longrightarrow## you create a torque. The minimum torque ##\tau_m## to open\close the door is equal if you push near or far from the pivot point. So, if ##\tau_m## is constant for each point you push the door, something, like ##r## (distance from the pivot point) and ##F## (the force applied by you), change. In what way?
 
Another way to say what 'Bestfrog' said,
when you are trying to close a door you produce torque
the torque formula is defined by T = F (the force you make) * d (the distance from the point where the door is atached to the wall, the 'pivot point')
so, the further you push the door from its pivot point, the greater the torque and easier it is to close / open it
(hope you understood it, otherwise just send more questions - this is my first time trying to answer something :) )
 
I suspect that an argument based on torque does not provide the intuitive explanation that is sought.
Perhaps a more natural way is to think in terms of mechanical advantage. It is effectively a lever. When you push at a point far from the pivot you have to push further to get the door to close to the same extent. This spreads the effort over a greater distance. It is like walking up the long but gentle ramp instead of climbing the short flight of stairs.
 
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haruspex said:
I suspect that an argument based on torque does not provide the intuitive explanation that is sought.
Perhaps a more natural way is to think in terms of mechanical advantage. It is effectively a lever. When you push at a point far from the pivot you have to push further to get the door to close to the same extent. This spreads the effort over a greater distance. It is like walking up the long but gentle ramp instead of climbing the short flight of stairs.
"It is like walking up the long but gentle ramp instead of climbing the short flight of stairs."
Very nice way to explain, thanks for the reply man :)
 

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