Final answer:
The statement about recruitment of bigger motor units to push a table is false from a physics perspective. In physics, the necessary force is influenced by factors like friction, mass, and distance, rather than muscle physiology. Overcoming static friction is key to initiating movement, while kinetic friction influences the effort to maintain it.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is false; to push a table or any object, the concept of motor unit recruitment does not apply directly. Instead, the principle of physics concerning the overcoming of static friction comes into play. The human muscular system does recruit motor units from smallest to largest (a process called 'size principle'), but this process is relevant more to the consideration of muscle physiology rather than the physics of moving an object.
In physics, to move an object like a table, the person pushing must apply a force that overcomes the force of static friction between the table and the floor. Once the table starts moving, you would continue to apply a force to counteract the force of kinetic friction to keep it moving. The size of the motor units recruited is more about the strength exerted by muscles, while the force necessary to move the table is determined by the coefficient of friction, the normal force, and the table's weight.
When it comes to the force applied and the work done to move an object, important factors include the coefficient of friction, the normal force (which is connected to the mass of the object), and the distance moved. If the surface creates more friction like a rug, you need to exert more effort compared to a smoother surface like a concrete floor. As such, you will do more work against friction moving an object across a rug than around it on a smooth floor. Additionally, moving objects on inclined planes or by applying forces not aligned with the direction of movement can also affect the total work done against friction.