How much can a Humvee push?

[maa45069]

In case you want a little more info....
When you push there is one component of force that adds to the weight of the body and hence there is more friction. When you pull the vertical component of force is against the weight of body and hence there is less overall friction. So it is easy to pull than push an object.

See this Free Body Diagram for Pushing:

Notice that F*sinθ acts downwards along with the weight m*g and therefore increases the normal reaction N (Normal reaction is equal to sum of all the vertical forces). And friction is directly dependent on Normal reaction; More is N more is the frictional force.



Now see this Free Body Diagram for Pulling:

Notice that F*sinθ acts upwards along with the weight m*g and therefore decreases the normal reaction N. Therefore the frictional force is reduced.

Therefore it is easier to Pull than to Push.

 

[Nomadic]

In case you want a little more info....
When you push there is one component of force that adds to the weight of the body and hence there is more friction. When you pull the vertical component of force is against the weight of body and hence there is less overall friction. So it is easy to pull than push an object.

See this Free Body Diagram for Pushing:

Notice that F*sinθ acts downwards along with the weight m*g and therefore increases the normal reaction N (Normal reaction is equal to sum of all the vertical forces). And friction is directly dependent on Normal reaction; More is N more is the frictional force.



Now see this Free Body Diagram for Pulling:

Notice that F*sinθ acts upwards along with the weight m*g and therefore decreases the normal reaction N. Therefore the frictional force is reduced.

Therefore it is easier to Pull than to Push.

Nonsense. The force required to accelerate an object of a given mass by a given amount will always be constant (F=ma). It doesn't matter if you push or pull.

 

[doghead]

Take it to PM, if you two want to debate the laws of physics.