Question
Why it is easier to pull a lawn mower than to push it?
Solution
When we push or pull the lawn mower with force F at angle θ with horizontal, the force of push or pull can be resolved into two rectangular components:
(i) F cosθ, the horizontal component which helps it to move in forward direction.
(ii) F sinθ, the vertical component of force.
In case of pull, Fsinθ acts in vertically upward direction which decreases the normal reaction and hence force of friction decreases.
Since in case of pull, force of friction is less than that in the case of push. Hence it is easy to pull than to push.
