Question

Charlie is playing with his daughter Torrey in the snow. She sits on a sled and asks him to slide her across a flat, horizontal field. Charlie has a choice of (a) pushing her from behind by applying a force downward on her shoulders at ​30^\circ​ below the horizontal (Fig. a), or (b) attaching a rope to the front of the sled and pulling with a force at ​30^\circ​ above the horizontal (Fig. b). Which would be easier for him and why?

Answer 1

b

Step-by-step explanation:

Pulling up with the rope would decrease the frictional force, pushing down would increase the frictional force.

Answer 2

(b) attaching a rope to the front of the sled and pulling with a force at ​30^\circ​ above the horizontal

Step-by-step explanation:

Remember that it is easier to pull an object than to push it, this is because when you pull you often do it with an angle towards the positive side of the vertical and when you push you often do it towards the negative side of the vertical this increases the friction and the force that is keeping you from being able to move the object.