Question

Pls help!!! In front of a door, there is a very heavy bookcase. A boy decides to shove it out of the way, so he stands next to it and begins to push. However, instead of moving it, he begins to slide backward. Why does this happen, and what could he do to increase the force he's able to exert on the bookcase? list three suggestions. (im guessing it happens because the bookcase is pushing back on him with a force equal to the one he exerted? not sure)

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

When the boy pushes against the bookshelf, the shelf pushes back against him with the equal and opposite force he is exerting. Now, because the shelf is so heavy, it barely moves under the force applied by the body. However, the boy, who is lighter compared to the bookshelf, begins to slide across the floor because the force has a greater effect on him.

Therefore, in order to increase the force the boy is exerting on the bookshelf, he somehow has to keep himself from sliding. One option would be to support his feet against something to keep them from sliding; this way he would be able to exert a greater force without himself moving.

Hence, the three suggestions are:

1. simply push a bit harder against the bookshelf

2. Support your feet against something to keep them from sliding across the floor.

3. Wear footwear that has a lot of traction.

4. Remove the books out of the bookshelf to make it lighter so that it is easier to move.