Question

When opening a hinged door, the handle is usually on the side of the door farthest from the hinges. Rank the difficulty of opening the door if you were to push or pull on the following locations on the door:
Hardest To Open

Easiest Open

1. As close to the hinges as possible

2. the center of the door

3. The edge farthest from the hinges

Answer 1

The order of difficulty from the hardest to the easiest would be subject to the concept we have of Torque.

The Torque principle defines us that

$\tau = Fd$

Where,

F = Force

d = Distance

As the distance increases, the force applied must be less to make the movement of the object so we have to

$F \propto \frac{1}{d}$

Hence we have to be the distance inversely proportional to the force to turn the door the order would be:

As close to the hinges as possible (Hardest)> The center of the door> the edge farthest from the hinges (Easies)

1>2>3