UKC

I'm just putting the finishing touches to a side gate. It's somewhat bigger than a "standard" garden gate; circa 4' 7" x 5'10", made from 3" x 2"(frame) with thin T & G cladding forming the panel.

The Mrs. looked at it and said "It looks very heavy, how am I going to open it?" I couldn't seem to make her understand that, when you open a door or a gate you are rotating a lever on a pivot(hinge) and are NOT lifting the thing!

How can I get this across to her?

(It probably weighs about 50lbs)

In reply to mypyrex:

Let her try opening it?
or point out how much a car door weighs..

In reply to mypyrex:

It may be pivoting but the greater the mass, the greater the inertia and therefore the harder it will be to open.
She may not be as stupid as you seem to imply.

In reply to Rob Exile Ward:
Yes, I did consider that possibility. Is there any sort of calculation for that sort of thing?
I was not suggesting stupidity merely wondering how to explain that the work of opening a gate is not the same as having to lift its weight.

In reply to mypyrex:


http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/py105/AngularMo.html ( use centre of mass to find r)
you also have the air resistance of the gate and friction in the hinge

compared with W=mgh for lifting the gate of mass m through a height h.

In reply to mypyrex:

Er yes, though it's 50 years since I had to do that sort of thing - turning moments and all that.

In reply to mypyrex:

the doors in the average house are big and heavy...

In reply to Rob Exile Ward:

Been tr6ing to think what the term was.

In reply to mypyrex:

Just fix some holds to it and tell her she can climb over. Make sure you reset the routes regularly though.

In reply to mypyrex:
Just tell her it's about the same as your front or back door and let events unfold?

Sometimes a demonstration makes more sense than an explanation...

In reply to mypyrex:

How about comparing pushing shopping trolley full of food with trying to lift said shopping trolley and food?

In reply to captain paranoia:

Nice comparison. I think I was hearing my dad's voice muttering about doors being similar in my head while he was bustling off to do something else, if you see what I mean, but that's a great way of explaining it.

In reply to mypyrex:

These first world problems are a real bitch.

In reply to mypyrex:

The science isnt especially simple for non science based folk, unlike say the pretty easily understandable stupidity of posting derogative public comments about your partner on the internet.

In reply to mypyrex:

Does it open up, like a Delorean?

In reply to Jacob Ram:

These first world problems are a real bitch.

As are second rate vacuous responses...

In reply to mypyrex:

Which side did you put the hinges on? She might have a point if you've installed a cat-flap or drawbridge :-D

In reply to mypyrex:

If you have a very wide gate be careful as the wind can catch them and all of a sudden the become extremely 'heavy' and slam possibly taking your fingers off.

In reply to mypyrex:


Has she ever opened doors and gates before?

In reply to mypyrex:

What's her Gate Open strength?

In reply to mypyrex:


Why bother trying, just finish it then let her open it.
jk